Fostering is one of the most varied, challenging and rewarding jobs you can do. Fostering services are always looking for more foster carers who can make a real difference to children's lives.
Every year, tens of thousands of children across the UK need foster carers while they can’t live with their birth families. This means that thousands of new foster families are needed every year. Foster carers can make a real difference to children's lives - and that's a hugely rewarding job.
What do foster carers do?
Foster carers give children and young people a loving, stable and nurturing home while they can't live with their birth families. They are part of a team of professionals making sure that every child has what they need to thrive.
Why foster?
There's nothing quite like fostering if you want to work with children.
- Foster carers work from home so it’s possible to combine fostering with other responsibilities, like caring for your own children, or having another job. The age and needs of the children in your care will affect what else you can do, but there are lots of different types of fostering, so you can choose which one is right for you.
- All foster carers are paid a sum of money called an allowance to cover the cost of looking after the children in their care. The allowance you'll get depends on where you live and the age of the children you care for. Some foster carers will also be paid a fee for the work that they do. This might include additional payments for looking after a child with specific needs or to recognise the experience and skills you bring to the role.
- For as long as you're a foster carer, you will be given training and support to develop your skills and knowledge about fostering. This is sometime called 'continued professional development'. You will also have the chance to get involved with other aspects of fostering, such as helping to recruit new foster carers or running support groups.
- Foster carers have a unique chance to make a real difference to a child's life, supporting them and working to help them develop and achieve their potential.
I became a foster carer because I believe that you should always give something back to your community. The biggest rewards come when the children I have looked after achieve what they should.
Marcia, foster carer for more than 10 years.
Find out more
- Who can foster? Across the UK, fostering services are looking for more foster carers from all backgrounds to give children and young people the best possible care. Find out more about who can be a foster carer.
- Who needs fostering? Children of all ages and from all backgrounds need foster carers. Right now, more foster carers are needed to look after teenagers, disabled children, children who are seeking asylum, and groups of brothers and sisters. Find out more about who needs fostering.
- What do foster carers do? If you are thinking about becoming a foster carer, read more about what foster carers do.
- How else can you help? Make a donation to The Fostering Network to support our work to make foster care the best it can be.
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