Find out how much you could earn as a foster parent
Fostering a child is one of the most rewarding decisions you’ll ever make. Not only will you be making a real difference to a child’s life, but there are so many fantastic personal benefits including; a generous financial package, a chance to learn new specialist skills and a flexible career from home that puts family at its heart.
Why fostering should be your next career move…
You’ll change a child’s life
The most important reason – you’ll be making a real difference in helping give a child or young person a brighter and happier future.
Be your own boss
Say goodbye to the 9-5 and hello to an exciting and rewarding career from home that puts family first.
Learn new skills
Throughout your fostering journey you’ll have continued access to high quality training courses to develop your skills and knowledge.
Generous fostering payments and rewards
At FCA, our foster parents go above and beyond for children and young people every day and we believe we should do the same for them. That’s why along with a generous fostering allowance of on average, £420 per week, our foster parents will also receive:
- A summer and winter £500 bonus payment each year
- Minimum 14 nights paid respite
- A special gift or experience for each fostering milestone you hit
- Annual events to recognise and support your role as a carer
- An additional appreciation bonus each year of up to £1,000 depending on length of service with us
When you foster you’ll become self-employed, entitling you to significant tax relief.
You will start to receive your fostering allowance as soon as a child or young person is in your care, this will be a payment once every two weeks.
Fostering shouldn’t affect any other benefits such as housing allowance, income support and more.
What is the criteria for fostering?
When it comes to being a foster parent and fostering a child, it’s your personal qualities that count. We proudly welcome people from all backgrounds, all walks of life, all religions and sexual orientations. There aren’t any hard and fast rules about who can foster children and young people, so forget the myths, here is what you need in order to foster:
What you need:
- Be over 21 years old (there’s no upper age limit)
- Have a spare bedroom but you don’t need to own your own house
- Be a British Citizen or have indefinite leave to remain
- Generally you’ll need to be able to foster full time, but there are a few exceptions
- Plenty of patience, energy, resilience and commitment
What you don't:
- To be married or in a relationship
- Already be a parent (we give you lots of support and training)
- Any specific qualifications or experience in childcare
- You can foster regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation or disability