Fostering a student

[Concernedfrommanc]

I have posted this in the staffroom but was redirected here.

I am a teacher in a secondary school and it has been brought to my attention that one of my lovely students will (most likely) be kicked out of home when they turn 16. Safeguarding team of course are aware. There are issues with alcohol in the home, unhealthy levels of control etc but I doubt social services would remove the child.

Is it legal/possible for me to foster her? I know most teachers have said "I want to take them home" about a student at some point in their career, but in all seriousness, this child needs a stable home and I have one to give. My family situation isn't right for fostering an unknown child right now, but offering our home to an older, known child is a possibility.

For what it's worth, we are not registered foster carers.

No idea. Maybe someone will come by with some knowledge. I imagine that as your relationship with student is professional, you'd want to do everything through official channels. If it were a friend of DC it would be easier to keep things informal. I don't think there's harm in enquiring. It takes a long time to go through the process so the sooner the better.

Friends did this, with SS approval which gave them a foster allowance. Not sure if they went through a full or expedited assessment - or none at all. I have a feeling all they did were DBS checks. They got advice from Coram Fields if that helps.

Coram charity I meant

DH and I did this. We fostered a child from a school I worked at. We did it as a kinship agreement for about 10 months (turning 16-end of GCSEs). They moved in to supported living just before turning 17 but still come to us for Christmas and their birthday, now in first year of university.

Through Barnados supported living a possibility?