Understanding how to become a foster carer involves researching fostering agencies and attending information sessions to grasp the process. After applying, you’ll complete training and assessments to ensure you can provide a safe and nurturing environment for children in need.

What Are the Main Types of Foster Carers?

Foster carers look after children who cannot live with their birth families, sometimes on a short-term basis and sometimes for the long term. There are several different types of fostering arrangements, depending on the nature of the child’s needs and the capacity of the fostering family to care for that child. Below is a description of the main types of foster carers:

1. Short-Term Foster Carer: Children come into this type of care as a temporary placement. While social services work on finding a permanent plan for the child’s future (for example, returning to the birth family or adoption), foster parents provide short-term care for the child. Short-term placements typically last from a few days or weeks to a few months.
2. Long-Term Foster Carer: Long-term foster carers provide a stable and permanent home for children who cannot return to their birth families and are unlikely to be adopted. This arrangement can last for several years or until the child reaches adulthood.
3. Respite Foster Carer: Respite carers look after children in the short term to allow the primary foster carer or the child’s birth family some time off. Such placements usually last for a weekend or up to two weeks, helping to prevent foster carers from burning out.
4. Emergency Foster Carer: Emergency foster carers are on standby to take children on short notice so they can be safely removed from their families in an emergency (e.g., if there has been a domestic violence incident). These carers are often called at 2 am or on a Saturday and may have to take a child with little notice or preparation.
5. Specialist Foster Carers: Children who require specialist fostering may have complex needs, such as severe behavioural problems, physical disabilities, or mental health issues. Specialist fostering often requires specific skills and a more extensive support network.
6. Parent and Child Foster Carer: In this type of fostering, the foster carer looks after the parent (usually a young mum) and her child while helping the parent learn parenting skills and offering support and advice.
7. Short-Break Foster Carer: Short-break carers provide short-term placements for children with disabilities or special needs, allowing the child’s family a break from caring duties or providing basic care for a child while the family attends to other responsibilities. These carers typically provide a break for a few days or over a weekend.
8. Kinship or Connected Person Foster Carer: Sometimes, the child is sent to live with a relative or family friend who becomes a foster carer. This type of fostering, called kinship or connected person fostering, helps to maintain family ties and cultural connections.
9. Fostering for Adoption: Foster carers provide a home for a child while the courts determine whether he or she should be adopted, and they often receive the child for adoption afterward.

What Does a Foster Carer Do?

Foster carers are a vital part of the dynamic that enables children and young people to live safely outside their families of origin. They provide emotional and physical support to children who may have experienced trauma, neglect, or abuse. Here is what a foster carer does:

• Provide a Secure Base as a Family Member: Foster carers should offer a safe, stable, and emotionally nurturing home where children can thrive and feel secure. This includes meeting their physical needs (food, shelter, clothes) and protecting them from harm.

• Support the Child’s Mental Health: Children and young people in foster care have often faced trauma, loss, or neglect. Foster carers help them grieve, process, and express their feelings with support, patience, and understanding. They usually work alongside social workers, therapists, or counsellors to provide the child with necessary mental health care.
• Provide for Educational Needs: Foster carers ensure that children attend school regularly and make progress in their education. This involves helping with homework, attending parent-teacher meetings, and advocating for the child if they have special educational needs.
• Stay in Touch with Birth Family (When Appropriate): Some foster children maintain contact with their birth families, especially when reunification is a goal. Foster carers facilitate these contacts to ensure they are supportive and not traumatising for the child.
• Work with Social Workers and Other Professionals: Foster carers collaborate with social workers, health professionals, and other support services to ensure the child’s needs are met. They attend regular meetings, reviews, and training sessions to stay informed about best practices.
• Establish Structure and Boundaries: Many children entering foster care benefit from clear structure and boundaries. Foster carers set household rules, routines, and expectations, so the child knows what is required of them.
• Help the Child Build Life Skills: Foster carers often assist children in learning practical life skills such as cooking, budgeting, and grooming, which is particularly important for young people approaching adulthood.
• Prepare for Reunification or Adoption: If the child is returning to their birth family or being adopted, foster carers help them prepare for the transition. This may include liaising with the child’s social worker to support them through the emotional and practical aspects of the move.
• Training and Development: Foster carers must keep themselves updated on training to ensure they are equipped with new skills and techniques. This is mandatory, as foster carers need to understand the impact of trauma and care for children and young people who have experienced it.

Average Foster Carer Allowance and Salary

They are fostering, which means taking responsibility for other people’s children. UK-based foster carers receive an allowance for fostering a child. Various factors are considered when determining the amount of this foster care allowance, such as the child’s age, the region in which they are placed, and whether they have special needs. However, fostering is not necessarily a full-time job, and foster carers can receive a substantial allowance for caring for the child. Below is an overview of the typical allowances for foster carers in the UK.

• Basic Fostering Allowance: The allowance is based on the child’s age and location, and it differs across the UK. The basic fostering allowance is between £150 and £300 a week. This money is intended to cover the child’s food, clothing, travel, and other expenses.
• Specialist Fostering Allowance: Those who care for children with complex needs or who are in specialist foster care placements, such as children with disabilities requiring round-the-clock care, can receive up to £350 to £500 or more per week. This reflects the increased level of care required.
• Fostering for Adoption Allowance: If you are fostering for adoption, you usually receive the same fostering allowance as short-term carers. Once you have adopted the child, the financial support may change.
• Respite and Short-Break Carers: Respite carers, who care for a child for a short period to give other fostering families a break, usually receive a pro-rated allowance based on the number of days the child is in their care, often similar to that for short-term fostering.
• Tax-Free Income: Carers in the United Kingdom receive foster allowances that are exempt from income tax. The first £10,000 earned from fostering is tax-free, and carers receive additional tax relief for every child.

Essential Skills of a Foster Carer 

Caring for others requires an unusual combination of emotional resilience, patience, and practical skills. The skills of a foster carer include being flexible, empathetic, and capable of addressing the needs of children who may have experienced trauma or instability. Here are the essential skills for a career as a foster carer:

• Empathy and Compassion: It is important to put oneself in the shoes of the child in care, empathise, and try to understand their lives. Many children in care have suffered trauma, neglect, and abuse; being able to offer emotional support to them is an integral part of the role.
• Patience and Resilience: Foster carers need patience, as children can misbehave due to their experiences. Staying calm, consistent, and empathetic is essential, even in difficult circumstances.
• Flexibility and Adaptability: No child in foster care is the same, and carers must be flexible to meet a wide range of needs. Foster carers may also need to react to emergencies and shifts in care plans.
• Good Communication Skills: Carers must communicate effectively with their social worker, health visitors, schools, and the children in their care. They must advocate for the child’s needs and engage with a broader support network.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Children in foster care can present with challenging behaviours, including those related to past trauma. Foster carers must develop creative solutions to these problems.
• Emotional Regulation: Foster carers must regulate their emotions and responses when faced with sensitive or traumatic material, ensuring that the child is not exposed to high levels of emotional arousal.
• Organisational Skills: Foster carers need to keep track of appointments, meetings, school events, and other details about their foster child. Good organisational skills help keep everything on track.
• Commitment to Training and Development: Fostering is a learning process, and foster carers must be committed to ongoing training and development to acquire the skills necessary to provide the best possible care for children.

Tips For Foster Carer 

Here are some practical tips for those considering becoming foster carers:

• Research the Different Types of Fostering: If you are interested in fostering, learn about the various types available before starting the application process. For example, it’s essential to know whether you want to pursue short-term fostering or specialist fostering and to decide whether you want your children to be involved, especially if you are a single parent.
• Create a Good Support Network: Fostering is an emotionally challenging role, so try to build a strong network of friends, family, professionals, and experts to whom you can turn for support. You’ll find that the foster care agency you work with will offer you a support group and mentoring for new carers.
• Prepare Your Home: To be a foster carer, your home must meet specific safety and space requirements. You will need to provide a clean and safe environment and have a room available for a child.
• Attend Pre-Approval Training: Most fostering agencies will require prospective foster carers to attend pre-approval training, typically the Skills to Foster course (or another approved training course). This training is an introduction to fostering and will cover topics such as child development, trauma, and safeguarding. It will help you understand the challenges and rewards of becoming a foster carer.
• Be Prepared for Emotional Challenges: Fostering can be emotionally tough. Many children in care have experienced trauma, loss, or neglect. Be ready to face challenging behaviour, and ensure you have a network of coping strategies and support.
• Keep the Social Worker Informed: Maintaining a good relationship with the child’s social worker is vital. Raise any concerns or new developments in the child’s behaviour with them. Regular meetings with the social worker will also keep you updated on the child’s case.
• Self-Care: Make your well-being a priority when fostering. Look after yourself, speak to other foster carers, discuss your feelings with others, and ask for help when needed.
• Make the Child Feel at Home: Prepare the child’s bedroom and give them space. Allow them to choose bedding and decorate their room. Some gestures require little effort but can mean a lot.
• Expect a Phase of Adjustment: The foster child may need time to adjust to their new home, family, and routines. Be patient as they adapt to a new way of doing things. Expect the child to hold on to attitudes, beliefs, and habits from their previous experiences, as these may be the only way they feel in control. They may resist changes you initiate because they challenge the new routines they have established. Trust can be an issue, so it may take time for the child to feel safe with you. Be consistent and meet them where they are.

Foster Carer Requirements

In the UK, foster carers must meet specific criteria and undergo a thorough assessment process. Here are the general requirements for becoming a foster carer:

• Age 21 or Older: You must be 21 or older and a citizen or permanent resident to become a foster carer. There is no upper age limit, provided you are healthy and can care for the child.
• Adequate Living Space: To properly accommodate a foster child, you must have space in your home for a spare room. This room should be a safe and welcoming place for the child to sleep and study, as well as having space to store their belongings.
• Health and Fitness: You must be in good physical and mental health. The local authority will want to conduct a medical assessment as part of your application to ensure that you are capable of looking after a child.
• Safe and Stable Environment: Your family or home environment will be assessed to ensure it is safe and stable for a child. It must be free from safety hazards, and you must be able to provide a stable emotional baseline.
• Criminal Record Checks: All foster carers and any other adult household members will need an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. This is to ensure that you do not have any convictions that would prevent you from caring for vulnerable children.
• Financial Stability: While fostering agencies provide allowances to meet the costs of looking after the child, prospective carers must also demonstrate sufficient financial stability to cover household expenses.
• Willingness to Train: Foster carers must undertake ongoing training to enhance their skills and knowledge. You must be willing to attend training sessions and stay up to date with best practices in child care and safeguarding.
• Working with Social Services: Foster carers collaborate with social workers, therapists, and other professionals to support the child. You will need to attend meetings, complete reports, and work with the child’s care team.

How to Become a Foster Carer

Becoming a foster carer involves several steps, including training, assessments, and approval from your local authority or fostering agency. Here’s a step-by-step guide to becoming a foster carer in the UK:

First Step:

1. Make the Initial Enquiry: If you’re thinking about fostering, it makes sense to talk to your local authority or a fostering agency first to find out what fostering entails and how you might be suited to it.
2. A Social Worker Visits You and Your Family: Once you’ve contacted your local authority or a fostering agency, a social worker will visit to ask questions about your current situation and life history. You must also provide basic details such as your address, date of birth, and any criminal record. You may also need to complete a questionnaire.
3. The Local Authority or Agency Will Do Some Checks: Next, the local authority or agency will check your information. These checks will likely include a DBS/police check, reference checks, and a check against the children’s barred list to ensure you are not banned from looking after children.
4. You Will Have a Home Visit: The social worker will meet your family and assess your home for its suitability for fostering. They will also discuss the type of fostering you are considering.
5. You Will Attend a Preparation Group: This group will help you learn about the needs of looked-after children and how to cope with them.
6. You May Need to Undergo a Medical Examination: This is part of ensuring you are fit to foster.
7. You Will Have a Fostering Assessment: A social worker will spend time with you, interviewing you and others in your household, including friends and children (if you have them), to assess your readiness for fostering. The assessment will examine your motivation, commitment, and capacity to foster, as well as your current and past relationships and how you handle challenges and stress. The social worker will also evaluate your communication skills and your awareness of your own needs and issues, such as discrimination. You will then receive feedback.
8. Receive Approval: Once approved, you will receive a letter confirming your approval as a foster carer.

Second Step:

1. Research Fostering Agencies: Find a fostering agency in your area and decide whether to foster through your local authority or a private fostering agency. Make sure to choose an agency that supports and trains its carers well.
2. Go to an Information Session: Many fostering agencies host information sessions where you can learn more about fostering, the types of placements they offer, the support foster carers receive, and more. These sessions are a great way to help you decide if fostering is for you.
3. Make an Application: If you decide to proceed, the next step is to apply to your chosen fostering service. They will ask you for information about yourself, your family, your home, your health, and your motivation to foster.
4. Complete an Initial Assessment: Once you’ve submitted your application, a social worker will visit your home to conduct a simple initial assessment, covering your living situation and suitability for fostering.
5. Complete Pre-Approval Training: You will need to complete a training course, such as Skills to Foster, which covers the basics of fostering, child development, and safeguarding to prepare you for the challenges of fostering.
6. Undergo a Comprehensive Assessment: A social worker will conduct a Form F assessment, which will include several home visits, interviews, and discussions about your background and lifestyle to determine your suitability as a parent.
7. Carry Out Background Checks: As part of this process, you’ll need an enhanced DBS check and at least one reference from someone who knows you well (e.g., a friend, family member, or employer).
8. Go to the Fostering Panel: A fostering panel will review your case once the assessment is complete. The panel will evaluate your assessment and recommend whether or not you should be approved as a foster carer.
9. Be Approved: If the panel approves your application, you’ll become a registered foster carer. You will work with your fostering agency or local authority to find a child or children that match your profile.
10. Begin Fostering: Once approved, you’ll be matched with a child or children who need a foster home. As a foster carer, you will receive substantial support from the start, including regular check-ins with social workers, access to training, and peer support groups.

Get Qualified as a Foster Carer

Foster Care Online Training Course, Child Protection Diplome, Child Care Level 2 Diploma, Understanding Child Safeguarding

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Should You Become a Foster Carer?

Foster carers can make a significant difference in the lives of children in their care, providing a safe, stable, and loving home and helping some of the most vulnerable children in our society through their most challenging times.

Is Being a Foster Carer a Good Choice for You?

The qualities that foster carers need include compassion, patience, and resilience. If this sounds like you, fostering could be perfect for you. It is challenging yet deeply rewarding, and it’s suitable for anyone who wishes to make a positive impact on the lives of children.

Foster Carer Allowances

The allowance received by foster carers in the UK covers the costs of looking after a child, ranging between £150 and £500 a week, depending on the type of care provided, the child’s needs, and the location. Tax breaks and support for additional specialist care may also be available.

Which Qualifications Can Help with a Career as a Foster Carer?

You don’t need any formal qualifications to become a foster carer. However, you must complete an initial training set (e.g., the government-subsidised Skills to Foster course) and participate in regular training sessions offered by your fostering agency.

Do I Need Parenting Experience to Become a Foster Carer?

No, you don’t have to be a parent or have any previous experience caring for a child. What counts is that you can offer a safe, caring, and supportive home. Your fostering agency will provide the necessary training and support.

Foster Carer Career Outlook

The demand for foster carers continues to be high, particularly for those willing to care for older children, siblings, and children with special needs. There is an ongoing need for both short-term and long-term care, as well as specialist fostering for children in need.

Foster Carer Progression and Opportunities

With time, you may be asked to handle more complex placements involving children with special needs or to provide therapeutic care. Many foster carers go on to mentor others who are becoming foster parents, foster for adoption, and provide respite care.

Foster Carer Exit Options and Opportunities

Foster carers develop many skills related to child development, social work, and counselling. Some may choose to become social workers or work in child welfare or education. Many also work with fostering agencies as trainers or mentors for newly recruited foster carers.