2 weeks Ago
The decision to foster a child isn’t one you make overnight. There are a lot of things to consider, including whether you take on fostering as a new career, or have the flexibility to combine fostering with other work. According to the Fostering Network, almost 40% of foster parents in the UK hold down another job alongside their fostering commitments, so it’s more common than you might think and becoming a foster carer does not have to mean giving up employment! Balancing employment with foster care Foster carers are expected to be available to care for children, support contact between a child and their family, attend meetings, training and support groups.
During the assessment process, applicants will need to demonstrate that they can balance these commitments. Some children, because of their age or needs, will require their foster carer to be at home and available for them. This is likely to be the case for those fostering babies or pre-school children, or children with extremely complex needs or challenging behaviour.
However other children, for example children who are school age or teenagers who are more independent, may be able to manage if their foster carer works on a part-time or even full-time basis. There are many carers within the Brighton & Hove fostering community who manage this successfully. Fiona, who works full time and fosters with her husband Darren (who also works full time) says: “As with any working family, juggling commitments and responsibilities is a challenge but we manage it with careful forward planning.
I will do the drop off and go into the office bit later. My husband will do the pick-up and go into the office early. We work things around the school run.
If I’ve got a meeting where I need to be in early, then we’ll switch around." More and more companies are becoming Fostering Friendly This means they have committed to the Fostering Network’s national scheme to help employers support employees who are fostering while working. The scheme recognises the commitments of the role and offers foster parents flexible working and paid time off for training and when they welcome a new foster child into the home.
It’s giving more and more people the opportunity to foster without having to give up their current job, which is crucial with rising numbers of children entering the care system each year. Brighton & Hove City Council have been Fostering Friendly since May 2023 Darren remembers “I was amazed when I started asking my employer what was available. There was a range of options there including being able to work flexibly.
You might be surprised so don’t be afraid to ask.” Being a role model The job you do could make you an important role model for a child, especially if you already work with children as some of your training and experience will be transferrable. Darren and Fiona do not have children of their own but believe "if we had our own children, we would work, so it’s important to us to be able to work and foster because we’ve both built up good careers.
For children, it’s normal for them to see parents or foster parents go out to work. Fostering as a couple vs. fostering as a single carer If you're fostering as a couple, only one of you needs to be at home.
This means that the other can work full-time. Or you may both work part-time and fit the needs of the child around your working hours like Darren and Fiona. However, many people who want to care for vulnerable children aren’t married or in a relationship, so they might not have a second income to support their income.
While finances won’t be the main reason behind your decision to become a foster parent, they play a big role. If you’re fostering as a single person, you’d generally only be able to have part-time work or a job with flexible hours, due to the care responsibilities of your foster child. Whether you are single or in a couple, you will need to show that other paid work is not a financial necessity.
The most important factor is that the needs of the child or children in your care are met When considering whether you can foster alongside employment, the most important factor is that you are dedicated to the child in your care, can meet their needs and still provide a safe, loving and nurturing home. With an increasing number of children entering the care system each year, the Brighton & Hove City Council Fostering Service desperately need more people to become foster carers, including those who need to work and foster. Every case is different, and will depend upon how flexible your employer is, how many hours you currently work, whether you foster as a single carer or with a partner, if you have a strong support network and how you'll manage during the school holidays.
The Brighton & Hove City Council Fostering Service need many more people to come forward to join their fantastic network of foster carers. As a foster carer you will play a crucial role supporting some of the most vulnerable children and teenagers in the city by offering a stable, secure and loving base where they can thrive. Fostering is not right for everyone, so if you are not in a position to foster yourself you can still #PlayYourPart by sharing the message with a friend or family member who would make a great carer.
To learn more about becoming a foster carer, email [email protected] to arrange a call or learn more by visiting www.
brighton-hove.gov.uk/foster .
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