What is the difference between Fostering Agencies and Local Authorities?

All children in the care system are legally the responsibility of local authorities (councils). Initially, local authorities seek placements with their own foster carers. When a suitable match isn't found, they turn to private fostering agencies like Skylark Fostering. This is often because the child has complex needs or the local authority lacks carers in the right area.

What’s the difference between Fostering and Adoption?

Both fostering and adoption provide vulnerable children with safe, nurturing environments. However, they have fundamental differences. Fostering is usually temporary, with the goal of reunification with birth families, while adoption is a permanent legal transfer of parental rights. Understanding these distinctions can help you decide whether fostering or adoption is right for you.

What is the age range for becoming a foster carer?

There is no upper age limit for fostering; as long as you have the energy, dedication, time, and space to welcome a child, you could be a great foster carer. The minimum age requirement is 21 years. We welcome applications from individuals in their 20s and 30s, provided there is evidence of stability and security in their living arrangements.

What is the employment status of foster carers?

All foster carers must be registered as self-employed and are responsible for their taxes. Registering is straightforward and can be done online through HMRC. Foster carers can also qualify for the Qualifying Care Relief Scheme, which allows some payments to be tax free, potentially reducing annual tax liability. Skylark can offer further financial advice and guidance regarding all aspects of this.

Can I work full time and foster?

Children in foster care require stability due to their previous experiences. At Skylark Fostering, we stress the importance of a nurturing and stable environment. We expect our foster carers to be available to offer full-time, personalised care, which includes avoiding full-time daycare for young children and reducing dependency on before or after-school care for school-aged children. It's also worth noting that fostering can be a viable career choice; for instance, fostering two children with us can equate to an annual salary of around £60,000.

Can foster children share a bedroom?

Foster carers must have a spare room for fostering. Siblings of the same gender can share a room if it's large enough, but as children grow, they will need their own space. This consideration is discussed during initial planning and matching stages. Fostered children should not share a bedroom with your own child unless matched to you on a long-term basis and all parties (including the children!) are in agreement.

How will Skylark Fostering match a child to my family?

Our matching process ensures that potential foster families can meet the specific needs of children taken into care. We consider the preferences, lifestyles, and interests of the foster family, as well as their ability to meet the child’s needs. Through a thoughtful approach, we aim to create successful and resilient fostering arrangements.

Privacy Notice

Last updated: 5 August 2026

Introduction

Skylark Fostering (“we”, “us” or “our”) is committed to protecting your personal information and respecting your privacy.

This notice explains what personal information we collect, why we use it, who we may share it with and the rights available to you. It applies to:

visitors to our website and people who contact us;
people interested in becoming foster carers;
foster carers and people connected with a fostering household; and
applicants for employment or other roles with us.

We are responsible for deciding how your personal information is used. This is known as being the “data controller”.

You can contact our Data Protection Officer at dpo@skylarkfostering.co.uk or write to:

Skylark Fostering
Office 11, Oak House
Waterside South
Lincoln
Lincolnshire
LN5 7FB

Information We Collect

Website visitors and enquiries

When you contact us, request information or complete a website form, we may collect your:

name, email address and telephone number;
message or enquiry;
communication preferences; and
information about how you heard about Skylark Fostering.

Our website may also collect technical information, such as your IP address, browser, device and cookie preferences. More information about cookies and the choices available to you should be provided through our cookie banner or Cookie Notice.

Fostering enquiries and applications

We may collect information including:

your name, contact details, address and date of birth;
information about your household, family and personal circumstances;
identification documents, references and employment information;
health information and details relevant to assessing your home;
criminal-record and safeguarding information; and
information about your application, fostering arrangements, communications, compliments or complaints.

We normally collect this information from you. We may also receive relevant information from referees, household members, local authorities, health professionals, the Disclosure and Barring Service and other organisations involved in the assessment or fostering process.

Staff recruitment

When you apply for a role, we may collect:

your name, address and contact details;
your employment, education and training history;
identification and right-to-work documents;
references and information about your suitability for the role;
equality-monitoring information, where provided; and
health or criminal-record information where this is relevant and legally permitted.

How We Use Your Information

We use personal information to:

respond to enquiries and provide requested information;
assess applications to foster and support approved foster carers;
safeguard children and young people;
assess job applicants and manage recruitment;
carry out appropriate references, identity, right-to-work and background checks;
manage complaints, concerns and other communications;
meet our legal, regulatory and contractual responsibilities; and
operate, protect and improve our services and website.

Where information is required by law or is necessary for an assessment, application or agreement, we may be unable to continue if it is not provided.

Our Legal Reasons for Using Information

Depending on the circumstances, we use personal information because:

we have a legal obligation, including safeguarding, employment and fostering requirements;
it is necessary for a contract, or to take steps requested before entering into a contract;
it is in our legitimate interests, such as responding to enquiries, recruiting suitable people and operating safe and effective services;
you have given consent, where you have a genuine choice and consent is appropriate; or
it is necessary to protect someone’s vital interests, such as in an emergency.

Health information and other particularly sensitive information are called “special category data”. Criminal-record information also receives additional protection. We only use this information where data-protection law provides an additional condition, such as safeguarding, employment obligations, health or social-care purposes, substantial public interest or legal claims.

Where we rely on consent, you may withdraw it at any time. This will not affect information used before consent was withdrawn.

Sharing Your Information

We only share personal information where there is a proper reason to do so. This may include sharing it with:

local authorities, regulators and safeguarding organisations;
the Disclosure and Barring Service;
referees, previous employers and relevant professionals;
legal advisers, insurers, auditors and professional consultants;
organisations providing secure records, recruitment, website or IT services; and
law-enforcement or other public authorities where required by law.

We do not sell or rent personal information.

Some service providers may process information outside the United Kingdom. Where this happens, we take steps to ensure that appropriate legal safeguards are in place.

Keeping Information Secure

We use appropriate organisational and technical measures to protect personal information against loss, misuse, unauthorised access, alteration or disclosure. Access is limited to people who need the information for their work.

How Long We Keep Information

We keep personal information only for as long as it is reasonably needed and in line with our retention policies and legal responsibilities.

Information about unsuccessful job applicants is normally kept for six months after we notify them of the outcome, unless there is a lawful reason to retain it for longer or they agree to be considered for future roles.

Fostering records are kept in line with applicable fostering requirements and our retention schedule. Website enquiries are kept only for as long as needed to respond, manage the enquiry and meet any legal requirements.

Your Rights

Depending on the circumstances, you may have the right to:

ask for a copy of your personal information;
have inaccurate or incomplete information corrected;
ask for information to be deleted;
ask us to limit how information is used;
object to particular uses of your information;
receive certain information in a portable format; and
withdraw consent where we rely on it.

These rights are not absolute and may not apply in every situation.

To exercise a right or ask a question, contact dpo@skylarkfostering.co.uk.

Complaints

You may complain to us if you are concerned about how we have collected, used, shared or protected your personal information. Please contact our Data Protection Officer using the details above.

We will acknowledge a data-protection complaint within 30 days, investigate it appropriately, keep you informed where necessary and tell you the outcome without undue delay.

You may also complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office:

Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Telephone: 0303 123 1113
Website:www.ico.org.uk

Changes to This Notice

We may update this notice from time to time. The latest version will be published on our website with its updated date.