Who Needs Foster care?
Who Needs Foster Care?
There is no simple answer to this question, because every child who comes into foster care is unique. They have different personalities, experiences and needs. What they share is that, for a period of time, they are unable to live safely with their birth families.
We have supported children of all ages — from babies just a few days old to teenagers approaching adulthood who can no longer remain at home. Some children need short-term care while work is undertaken with their families. Others may require longer-term stability if returning home is not possible.
Fostering provides a family environment during that time. It offers structure, routine and consistent adult support while plans for the child’s future are carefully considered. At its heart, fostering is about ensuring that children experience safety and stability when they need it most.
can i foster?
Many people are surprised to learn that they may already meet the basic requirements to become a foster carer.
In most cases, you will need at least one spare bedroom so that a child has their own private space. However, if you are interested in fostering a baby, a separate bedroom may not be required at the beginning, as a baby can sleep in a crib in your room.
You must not have any serious criminal convictions, particularly offences of a sexual nature, and you need to have the right to live and remain in the UK permanently.
You also need to have time in your life to care for a child. Fostering involves school runs, meetings, appointments and being present during school holidays. Working full time can sometimes make this difficult, but if your job is flexible or home-based, fostering may still be possible. Baby fostering in particular usually requires daytime availability.
Most importantly, you need the right motivation. Fostering is about providing stability, patience and consistent care. If you share our commitment to helping children and are willing to learn and work as part of a professional team, we would welcome an informal conversation to explore whether fostering could be right for you.
What support will i get?
When you foster with South Coast Fostering, you are not expected to manage alone. You will have a dedicated supervising social worker whose role is to support you throughout your fostering journey. They will provide regular supervision, practical advice and clear guidance. At times, they may also simply be someone to talk to when things feel challenging. Their role is to ensure you feel confident, informed and supported.
We maintain manageable social worker caseloads so that supervision is meaningful rather than rushed. This allows space for reflective conversations, problem-solving and proactive planning, rather than only responding when difficulties arise.
Training is another key part of the support we provide. Before approval, you will complete structured preparation training, and once fostering, you will have access to ongoing learning and development opportunities. These sessions are designed to build your skills, increase your confidence and help you respond effectively to children’s individual needs.
Peer support is equally important. We actively encourage connection between foster carers through support groups and community events across Southern England. Speaking to other carers who understand the realities of fostering can be reassuring and practical. Often, shared experience is one of the most valuable forms of support.
In addition, we provide 24/7 out-of-hours support. If a situation arises outside normal working hours, there will always be someone available to advise you. Our aim is to ensure that you feel supported at every stage — professionally, practically and personally.
book a call about fostering:
We’d be happy to give you a 15-20 minute call to talk to 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.
Just complete this short form and we will get back to you as soon as possible!
how much will i get paid?
We often say, “No one fosters for the money, but it is difficult to foster without it.” It is completely reasonable to ask about the financial side of fostering. Providing stable care requires time, availability and commitment, and the payment you receive is there to make fostering sustainable.
As a foster carer, your weekly payment is made up of two parts. The first is the fostering allowance, which is intended to cover the day-to-day costs of caring for a child — such as food, clothing, travel, activities and household expenses. The second part is the professional fee, sometimes referred to as the reward element. This recognises your role, responsibility and the time you dedicate to fostering.
With South Coast Fostering, you will receive:
£479.50 per week for a child aged 0–10
£507.50 per week for a child aged 11 and over
These payments are made per child and are designed to cover the costs of caring for them, alongside recognising the professional nature of your role.
If you would like to understand more about how fostering payments work, including tax arrangements and what is included, we are always happy to explain this clearly during an informal conversation.
Is fostering a job?
Fostering is not simply a job — it is a commitment that becomes part of your everyday life.
Most jobs allow you to switch off at the end of the day. Fostering does not work like that. Children need consistency, reassurance and routine beyond office hours. Their needs do not pause in the evening or at weekends, and being present is a central part of the role.
Fostering becomes woven into family life. It shapes routines, conversations and decisions. It asks for patience, resilience and emotional availability in a way that most employment does not.
If someone approached fostering purely as a job, without the underlying commitment to care and stability, it would be difficult to sustain. The carers who thrive are those who see fostering as a meaningful responsibility — one that brings challenges, but also deep purpose and lasting impact.
Download Our Free Guide To Fostering
We’ve created a free guide to fostering, which covers a lot of information you need to know before you decide to foster or now.
It covers what fostering’s really like, what makes a good foster carer, and how much foster carers receive to foster.