There are many misconceptions about fostering, finances being one of them.
Foster parents dedicate their lives to vulnerable children and young people, helping them feel safe, stable, and loved in a world that hasn’t been kind to them. They help them trust others again and provide brighter outcomes for their futures.
But do foster carers get paid for what they do? Yes, and in this article, we’ll explore why, from the costs of caring for a child to fostering as a full-time job, you’ll learn why financial support for foster parents matters.
Why financial support for foster parents matters
Some people think that foster parents shouldn’t receive an allowance; they should care for children purely out of charity and the kindness of their hearts.
Although foster parents do need to be compassionate, kind, and caring, they also need financial support, and here are five reasons why.
Covers the costs of caring for a child
Raising a child isn’t free; from school uniforms and PE kits to groceries, toiletries, and more, it can quickly add up. Not only this, but many children in care have experienced a lifetime of adversity in their early years and deserve the chance to create new positive memories through enrichment opportunities.
The allowance for foster carers covers all the costs associated with giving foster children a good childhood. A childhood where they never go hungry or cold, and where their foster parents have the resources to meet their ever-changing needs as they grow.
Fostering is a 24/7 role
What do foster carers do? – They care for children who are living with trauma and may have complex physical, behavioural, emotional and educational needs. It’s an around-the-clock role; here is just a snapshot of what a foster parent does day-to-day:
- Writing daily logs
- School drop-offs
- Taking children to family time arrangements
- Ongoing training
- Advocating for the child’s needs
- Helping children heal from their trauma
- Managing emotions and behaviour
- Regular supervision
- Collaborating with other fostering professionals, such as social workers, therapists, and education leads.
Although fostering is rewarding, it’s also challenging and not something you can simply switch off from when the clock turns five pm. That’s why at FCA, our fostering allowance is split into two: half covers the costs of caring for a child, while the other rewards our foster parents for their dedication to changing young lives.
Many foster parents can’t work full-time
Part of the role of a foster parent includes being available for school drop-offs, meetings, appointments, training, and the school holidays.
While many of our foster parents work alongside fostering, due to the demands of the role, it’s unlikely they’d be able to work full-time, unless they’re part of a couple and one foster parent is available to manage daily responsibilities.
The foster care allowance means that when someone takes in a child, whether for a few nights or until they turn 18, they can still pay rent, bills, and other expenses while they’re unable to work full-time in other employment.
Fostering is a professional role
Although you don’t need experience to become a foster parent, fostering a child is a professional role.
At FCA, our foster parents take part in ongoing training that ensures they can meet the ever-changing needs of children as they grow. Foster parents also have the opportunity to complete advanced-level training courses so they can care for children with disabilities and those seeking asylum.
Being a foster parent is not an easy role, and they deserve recognition for the skills and knowledge they work hard to gain, which in turn helps children in their care thrive. That’s why at FCA, our foster parents receive a generous fostering allowance and additional rewards as a thank you for everything they do.
Allows more people to foster
Every year, 36,000 children move into care, but the number of foster families available to care for them is in decline. If fostering payments didn’t exist, even fewer families would be able to welcome children into their homes, simply because they couldn’t absorb the additional costs.
While you need to have some level of financial security to become a foster parent, the fostering allowance means that it’s not something reserved only for the wealthy. It also prevents those with average incomes who’d make incredible foster parents from being excluded from taking up the role.
As a result, fostering is open to more people, preventing children and young people in care from being separated from their siblings, moving far from the communities they know, and having to live in residential care.
No one fosters ‘for the money’
Too often, we hear people accuse foster parents of ‘doing it for the money,’ but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Our foster parents open their homes and dedicate their lives to the children and young people who need it most. They help them heal from their trauma, overcome disadvantage, and build successful futures, changing not only their lives, but also the lives of generations to come.
They’re patient, resilient, and have an abundance of empathy; they don’t foster for the money, they foster to transform children’s lives, and receiving an allowance enables them to do just that.
Enquire to learn more
Thinking about becoming a foster parent? When you join FCA, you’ll receive 24/7 support, extensive training, and become part of a community dedicated to helping children and young people reach the best possible outcomes.
If you are over 21, have a spare bedroom, the legal right to work in the UK and a passion for making a difference in the lives of children and young people, enquire with us today.
Call us on 0800 023 4561 or submit your details via our online form. One of our friendly advisors will have a chat with you about fostering and help you begin this life-changing new chapter.
