Can I work and foster?

Q: Can I work and foster?

Many foster parents work as well as foster, however, there are a few things to think about before applying.

Many foster parents work as well as foster, however there are a few things to think about before applying.

When thinking about becoming a foster parent, we appreciate you may have concerns about fostering full time and your finances.

Fostering is rewarding but can be demanding and balancing both the needs of the child and work commitments effectively might not always be possible. We’re open to the possibility of you continuing to work, but it will need to be in the best interests of the child. We’d need to talk to you more about this more before your assessment begins. For example, we’d need to understand how flexible your employer is, the hours you plan to work and if it would be full or part time and do you have a support network who could help in an emergency.

In some cases children and young people because of their requirements or age, will need their foster parent to be at home and available for them. However, other children and young people for example school-age children or teenagers who are more independent may be able to manage if their foster parents work. Again much depends on the needs and age of children but also to ensure in all cases their welfare, safety and needs are at the centre of their care. We can talk to you in more detail about your individual circumstances.

Things to consider

As a foster parent, it is important that you are able to support a child with all aspects of their care. If you are hoping to keep working alongside fostering a child, it is helpful to fully consider the requirements of fostering and whether you can meet these whilst working.

A foster parent's role includes the following practical tasks when supporting a young person:

Be available to care for the child or children, including cooking meals, washing clothes, supporting with personal care as appropriate.
Transport the child to any health appointments.
Transport the child to school and any extra curricular activities.
Attend meetings in relation to the foster child.
Attend any training to support your role as a foster parent.
Attend support groups with other foster families.
Support contact between a child and their family, which could mean transporting them or supervising the contact.

Children’s physical, emotional and social development needs should be met at all times to ensure their welfare, safety and needs are at the center of their care.

If you feel you could care for a child in need then we'd love to hear from you. We will be able to talk to you about your individual circumstances and answer any questions you have.

Frequently asked questions

Does a foster parent get paid for fostering?

Yes, you’ll receive a regular fostering allowance. We offer our foster parent competitive fees and allowances to reward them for their hard work. In addition to the great support and training we offer.

How much is a foster parent paid?

This varies and is based on the type of referral you have and the needs of the child in your care. On average though, our foster parents can receive approx. over £400 per child, per week.

Will I be paid in between fostering referrals?

We do not continue to pay fostering allowances in between foster referrals, however we always aim for you to have little time without a child or young person, should this be your wish.

Fostering allowance

Our foster parents deserve to be rewarded for their hard work. That’s why we offer generous and competitive fostering allowances and payments. When considering whether you can foster, finance is an important factor. Our finance calculator is designed to help give you an idea of what you might be paid as a foster parent.

Try our finance calculator