Is fostering a job?

For sure,  Fostering can be a profession. By choosing to foster as your career, you can work in a position where you can significantly improve a child's life. Fostering is also life-changing for many people, not only for the child in care but also for the foster parent.

England has seen a decrease of 4% in approved fostering households since March 31, 2018. The decline in mainstream fostering applications, from 10,520 in 2018 to 8,280 in 2022, reflects similar trends. As a result, there is a severe shortage of foster homes and parents.

The social care system is used by just over 400,000 (3%) of the 12 million children who live in England at any given time. Because there are over 75,000 children in care and 55,000 in foster homes, foster parents have many professional opportunities. You may have considered fostering as a career option if you have previous experience in the service or care industry. You do not need any prior experience to become a foster parent. Teaching, nursing, and emergency services are just a few professions offering skills that can help you foster more effectively.

But everything is contingent on your particular circumstance. Because being a foster parent is a full-time job in and of itself, it would not be easy to foster while working full-time. In any case, some childcare game plans keep going briefly. In this scenario, you might continue working full-time in addition to your responsibilities as a foster parent. Why? Because respite foster care providers will know when their foster services will be required, they can plan their work accurately.

Alternatively, if you and your partner foster together, you can do both jobs simultaneously with more flexibility. One parent, for instance, could ensure they are available to meet the child's needs while the other parent works outside the home.

The fact of the matter is that your foster child is your top priority when you become a foster carer, regardless of your employment status. Therefore, the response to the question, "Can fostering be done full-time?" is indisputable; yes, it's a 24-hour obligation. Our staff at UK Fostering is continuously ready to discuss what is happening.

Having previous experience is required to work with children. Thanks to our training and support, you will have all the skills and tools you need to start a successful foster care career. Our ongoing foster care training programs are delivered by qualified instructors. Several courses can be taken in conjunction with our mandatory core training, "Skills to Foster," to give you all of the necessary information. You should be a powerful communicator. You must be able to talk to the child in your care with patience and understanding. You must fully comprehend what the child is attempting to convey. Additionally, you must communicate clearly and pertinently with the foster agency.

The kids and teens in your care have been through things that damaged their trust, which could affect how they act. Compassion, an essential component of the fostering process, is the only way to comprehend their feelings and responses. Appreciating the turbulence experienced by the child who has entered your household must be part of your empathy. The child may reject your efforts to provide a haven in your home.