What you do need is the patience, warmth and understanding to work with children going through a rough time in their lives. Being able to like and value children is crucial to being a successful foster carer.

The only people who would definitely be refused are people who have been convicted of offences against children or people who have committed violent crimes.

Each agency will be looking for people from all kinds of backgrounds and with a variety of life experiences to meet the needs of the children for whom they are responsible.

As such, foster carers come from all walks of life, all social backgrounds and all ages. The youngest someone can become a fosterer is 21 but there is no upper age limit.

They can be retired, working or unemployed. Some already have a family, others don't have children of their own.

They can be couples or single people and live in large detached houses or a two-bedroomed flat. They can be homeowners or in rented housing.

Some agencies will consider applications from disabled people and from gays or lesbians.

What does matter are a foster carer's personal qualities. They need patience, understanding and warmth. A sense of humour is also handy.

Increasingly, however, foster carers are seen as apart of a professional team and may be expected to undertake a range of tasks over and above providing a safe and nurturing environment. This may include assessing the needs of a child or working with a child to prepare them for a move from a foster home to an adoptive family.

Other carers may work with a young mother to teach parenting skills or with a young offender to change the pattern of their offending behaviour. In these cases a foster carer may receive a professional fee as well as the usual allowance.

See Different kinds of fostering and Fostering allowances for more information on this.

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