Fostering as a Career

Is Fostering a Job?

Yes, whilst we believe becoming a foster carer is a vocation, fostering is also a career. And for many, it’s a life-changing one. Starting a career in fostering gives you the opportunity to truly transform a child’s life for the better. From developing their confidence and self-esteem to heling them overcome challenges and celebrate important milestones, creating a safe, nurturing home for a child in foster care is a truly fulfilling role.

If you’re considering a career as a foster carer, our detailed guide answers all of your fostering career questions, from whether you can work and foster to how much foster parents get paid.

Are there many foster care career opportunities?

Yes, as of 31^st March 2025, the Department of Education reported that

That’s where we come in. At Capstone Foster Care, we’re always looking for new foster parents to help us build brighter futures for children in care. With the ability to transform the life of a young person in your local area, we encourage you to submit an enquiry with our friendly team to find out how fostering could also change your life.

Do you need prior experience to start your fostering career?

No, you don’t need any prior experience to become a foster carer. Our extensive training and support programmes will ensure you have all the necessary skills and resources to start a successful career in fostering.

Our foster care training courses are delivered by trusted professionals and are ongoing, so you’re always learning and developing your skillset. With a variety of courses available alongside our mandatory core training 'Skills to Foster', we’ll equip you with all the training you’ll need to advance your career.

Explore our training resources

Do you need prior experience to start your fostering career?

No, you don’t need prior experience working with children. Our training and support will ensure you have all the necessary skills and resources to start a successful career in fostering. Our foster care training courses are delivered by professionals and are always ongoing. There are a variety of courses available alongside our mandatory core training 'Skills to Foster', to equip you with all the information you may need.

What skills do you need to foster?

Whilst you don’t need any prior experience in the care sector to become a foster parent, like any job, fostering requires a specific set of skills. Most of these skills will come naturally to you and will be skills you already possess, especially if you’ve had children before. Others, you may have picked up from other professions, like teaching or nursing.

The fundamental skills you’ll need to start a career as a foster carer include:

Strong communication skills

Effective communication skills are essential as a foster carer. Understanding and empathising with your foster child is a vital skill to ensure they feel nurtured and supported. It’s equally important to be able to communicate effectively with your social worker and other professionals who care for your foster child to ensure their needs are being met.

Cooperation and collaboration

Whilst you are the primary carer for your foster child, fostering is a team effort. As part of a larger support system, it’s important that you work closely and collaboratively with the wider team to deliver the best outcomes for your foster child.

Empathy and compassion

Compassion is a skill that goes without saying for foster carers. Demonstrating empathy, whilst providing a loving and caring home, is a foster carer’s number one priority.

Resilience

According to the latest report from the Department for Education, 67% of looked after children have been placed into care due to neglect or abuse. So, whilst affected foster families will have the unwavering support of our in-house therapeutic foster care team, it’s important that you have the patience and resilience to manage emotional and behavioural challenges.

Adaptability

Whether adapting to changes in behaviour or different foster placements, it’s important for you to be able to embrace the unpredictable nature of fostering, particularly for those interested in short-term or emergency foster placements.

Can you work and foster?

In short, it depends on your circumstances. If you’re single, fostering alongside your existing career could be difficult as fostering is a full-time job in itself. That said, if you have strong support network and your current role offers you the flexibility to foster, you may be able to continue working. Some fostering arrangements are also scheduled for a predetermined period of time, which allows carers to work a full-time job separate from their foster care responsibilities. For example, a respite foster carer will know in advance when their fostering services are required and can schedule their work, accordingly.

Alternatively, if you’re fostering as a couple, you can often exercise a bit more flexibility when it comes to working while fostering. For example, one parent could ensure they’re available to meet the child’s needs whilst the other is working outside of the home.

Regardless of your employment status, the reality is that when you become a foster carer, your first priority is your foster child. So, when people ask, “Can fostering be a full-time job?”, the answer is most definitely yes – it is a 24/7 responsibility. With that said, our team at Capstone Foster Care are always willing to discuss your individual circumstances.

To learn more, read ‘Can I Foster and Work?’

Is fostering a paying career?

Whilst fostering isn’t about the pay, being a foster parent is a job, so our carers are remunerated to reflect that. Learn how much foster carers get paid for offering stability and security to a foster child.

At Capstone Foster Care, we are also an Employee Owned Trust, which allows us to invest more in our foster carers, social workers and therapeutic support. Learn more about our trust status and why this sets us apart from other independent fostering agencies.

Start fostering with Capstone Foster Care

If you’ve got a spare room and a desire to make a difference, simply fill out an enquiry form, and a member of our friendly team will call you back to chat through any questions and discuss next steps. We’re always eager to meet new people, so don’t hesitate to get in touch and see how, together, we can build brighter futures for young people in care.