Becoming a foster carer

What makes a good Foster carer?

Foster carers don’t wear capes, nor do they have magical powers. They are like you and me, normal, everyday people.

However we do think great foster carers do have some similar qualities:

Firstly, they care.

The best foster carers truly care about the children they are fostering, and the community that they live in.

Secondly, they have the time in their life to care for a child.

This means it’s unlikely they work long hours. Children need someone to be at home when they get home from school, to spend time with them on their homework, and to attend meetings about them. This doesn’t mean foster carers can’t work, but it does mean any jobs they do need to be flexible.

Thirdly, they need to have the space.

Both in terms of physical room, all children need their own bedroom, but also in terms of space in your hearts. Looking after a foster child can sometimes be very tough and a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. So you need to have a lot of love to give.

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE WHO TO FOSTER FOR?

You’ve probably noticed that there are 100’s of fostering agencies and local councils which are saying you should foster for them, and understanding the differences is complicated. Some are huge international companies with 1,000s of foster carers, and some are tiny oraganisations where the director also answers the phones and runs all the trainings.

So, how do you know who you should apply to?

Well it’s probably no surprise that we would say you should foster for us! But only if we’re right for you. We would always advice people to talk to as many fostering agencies as they can, at least 3.

From this, you’ll make a connection with at least one, and this is who you should go for.

We only hope that we’ll be one of the ones you talk to, so we can let you know about our unparalleled support for foster carers.

How much does the agency pay it's carers

Believe it or not, you get paid differently depending on who you foster for, and the difference can be a lot. Whilst we don't think many people foster for the money, it's important you receive enough to look after the child.

Find out what we pay our carers

What support do they offer their carers?

Each agency will have a unique approach to how they support their foster carers. This might mean they visit at different intervals, or they might or not be done by a qualified social worker.

More About SCF's Support

Learning and Development Opportunities

As a foster carer, it's important that the agency you foster for helps you grow and develop. Some agencies really invest in their carers, which helps the carer foster with better outcomes, so you should always find out about the agencies training programme, and how they support your development as a carer.

Our development plan

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book a call about fostering:

We’d be happy to give you a 15-20 minute call to tell you about fostering. Don’t worry, there’s no pressure from us – it’s honestly a chance for you to ask us any questions you have about fostering, and your suitability. Just complete this short form