The Fostering Task

Many people who would make excellent foster carers never pursue it as a career because they don’t realise what is involved, or they think that it is too difficult for them. Due to this lack of knowledge we have listed below some of the key day to day tasks usually involved in being a foster carer.

Obviously each carer, and each child, is different and it’s impossible to give an exhaustive list, but hopefully this will give you a flavour of what’s involved:

• Looking after children and young people 24 hours a day who are separated from their birth families, in your own home.
• Taking care of the child’s day to day needs, for example taking a young person to and from school, and ensuring that their health, cultural and leisure needs are met.
• Maintaining records, attending meetings, advocating on behalf of the child in your care and giving feedback.
• Working as part of a team of dedicated staff, all striving to make a positive change in the lives of children and young people who need someone to care for them, and care about them.
• There are many different types of fostering, including long-term, short-term, bridging placements, emergency placements and remand fostering. More information on the different types of fostering can be found by following this link (Types of Placement)
• The biggest challenge of your life – and the most rewarding!