Fostering as a Career

Is Fostering a Job?

Yes – make no mistake about it, fostering is a career. Choosing fostering as a career allows you the opportunity to work in a field where you can directly change a child’s life for the better. Want to know how much you could get paid for fostering as a full-time job?  Read our guide.

For many people, fostering is life-changing - not just for the child in care, but for the carer, too. If you’re wondering if you can work and foster, our detailed guide answers all your fostering career questions.

Are there many foster care career opportunities?

The Department of Education reported that as of 31^st March 2023, 82,170 children were in the care of their local authorities, with 71% of these children being looked after by a foster carer. This means there are over 20,000 children who are in need of loving, supportive homes.

If you have worked in the care sector or services industries, you might have already considered fostering as a career. However, you do not need any experience to become a foster parent. There are a wide range of professions - such as teaching, nursing, and emergency services - that also provide skills that can enhance your ability to foster.

Can you work and foster?

In short, it depends on your circumstances. For example, if you’re single, fostering alongside your existing career would be incredibly difficult because fostering is a full-time job in itself. However, some fostering arrangements involve a predetermined period of time. In this situation, you could work a full-time job separate from your foster care responsibilities. Why? Because 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.

Whilst fostering isn’t about the pay, being a foster parent is a job, so our carers are renumerated 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.

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.

Do you have the skills to foster?

Just like any job, fostering requires a set of skills to become successful in the role. Most of these skills will come naturally to you and will be skills you already possess, especially if you’ve had children before. These skills include:

Communication Skills

Effective communication skills are essential as a foster carer, understanding and empathising with your foster child is an important skill to ensure that they feel nurtured and supported. It’s equally important to be able to communicate effectively with your social worker and others involved in your child’s care to ensure their needs are met.

Cooperation

While the primary care for your foster child is your responsibility, fostering is a team effort. You are part of a larger support system. Cooperation involves working closely with the wider team to deliver the best outcomes for your foster child.

Compassion

Compassion is a skill that goes without saying for foster carers. Providing love and care is a foster carer’s number one priority.

Start fostering with Capstone Foster Care

To become a foster carer, you must first answer the question - do you have a spare room? If you do, the next step is to complete an enquiry form and begin discussing your foster care application with a member of our team.

A lot of people are afraid to take this step because they eliminate themselves for reasons that don’t matter at all. Find out the foster care requirements to see if you qualify to start your foster care career today.

If you have questions or concerns regarding foster care careers that have not been answered here, get in touch with Capstone Foster Care. We are eager to talk to you and answer your questions.