Many people worry that taking medication will stop them from becoming a foster carer. The good news is that taking medication does not automatically mean you cannot foster.
In fact, many foster carers take medication every day and go on to make a huge difference to the lives of local children.
Lots of people take medication
Taking medication is a normal part of life for many people.
Some people take medication for their physical health, while others take medication to support their mental health and wellbeing.
For example, foster carers may take:
- Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication such as sertraline, fluoxetine, or citalopram
- Blood pressure medication
- Asthma inhalers
- Diabetes medication
- Thyroid medication
Taking medication does not mean you cannot provide a safe, loving home for a child.
What will your local council want to know?
Your local council will want to understand how your medication affects your everyday life.
They may ask questions such as:
- What medication do you take?
- How long have you been taking it?
- Is it helping you?
- Has it stayed the same for a while?
- Are you well enough to meet a child's needs?
These questions are not there to catch you out. They simply help your local council get to know you better.
Medical background checks
As part of your fostering assessment, your GP will be asked to complete a medical report about your health.
This report is then looked at by an independent medical advisor, who gives advice to your local council as part of the assessment process.
This helps make sure that fostering is right for you and for the children who may be placed with you.
Don't rule yourself out
One of the biggest myths about fostering is that taking medication means you cannot become a foster carer.
For many people, that simply is not true.
If you have room in your home, time in your life, and a desire to help a child, it is worth having a conversation with one of our advisors.
