Why Fostering as a Career

Firstly, it is a rewarding career – it requires someone special to take on a child or young person (or even a few at once), sometimes with physical or behavioral issues – and take care of all their needs.

Succeeding at that task is a very satisfying feeling, even when it feels like progress is slow. If you are a parent of older children you have the chance once again to pass on your wisdom and experience and transform the life of a child in need.

It is estimated that there are 60,000 children and young people in the care of Local Authorities at any one time in the UK. The total number of children and young people who are not being looked after by their original parents is approx 300,000, and this is increasing each year. About 65% are in foster homes, the rest are living with foster families, other relatives or friends.

Therefore there is a national shortage of foster parents. So if you develop your foster parenting abilities and experience you will always be in demand. Possibly up to 10,000 more foster carers are needed to take on the role/career to ensure that children who need fostering have the opportunity to benefit from living in a safe, stable, and nurturing the family environment.

Foster Carers don’t have to have any particular qualifications, but having experience of caring for or working with children or young people really does help, and there are NVQ’s which it is recommended you study for.

Making a positive difference in the life and well-being of a child or young person is both rewarding and challenging.

As a new foster carer, you won’t be left alone to figure it all out – foster parents work in partnership with others who are involved in the child’s life; this includes – the maternal parents, other family members, Social Workers, health workers, teachers and fostering agency professionals.

Before embarking on a career in fostering it is important to take the time to research and then discuss the possibilities with your own family (spouse and siblings) so that you can make an informed choice and for the right reasons. Read more

You will be self-employed, but with only a few exceptions at high levels of income will you need to pay income tax on your earnings – as there is a special exemption for Foster career income. For taxation information see HMRC, call them and/or an Accountant. For welfare benefits, advice talk to your local benefits office – as in most cases fostering income does not affect entitlement to benefits if you need them. See fostering on DirectGov and also categories of foster care.

We are here to help – just give us a call and we’ll guide you through each step of the way. We look forward to hearing from you.

How to Foster a Child or Young Person

Foster carers are ordinary people performing extraordinary tasks – caring for other people’s children – for whatever reason can no longer stay with their original parents. It can be challenging, but it can also be rewarding in many ways.

We need many more foster parents from all kinds of ethnic groups and backgrounds, with different life experiences; couples and singles, young and old – to look after babies, children, and teenagers from 0 to 18 years. We will provide beginners with all the help they need to develop their career as a foster parent, and they are paid in fees and allowances for their efforts – in most cases it's all tax-free too.

From your first contact, you will find us to be friendly, supportive and helpful. Just give us a call and either pop in for a chat and an application or we will post you an application pack and guide. Find out more about fostering a child with Horizon – a leading London Fostering Agency – established over 12 years ago and employing a highly experienced team of social care and fostering professionals.

Common Myths About Foster Care Adoption

There are hundreds and thousands of children in the foster care system, and misconceptions about foster care, prevent a lot of competent foster parent aspirants. Foster care adoption is often misunderstood, and this results in some innocent children never finding a permanent home or a loving family. Here are common myths about foster care adoption

1.    Children in a foster home are their for the juvenile delinquency

Most of people believe that children in the foster home end up because of their juvenile delinquency. The kids in a foster home are because they are troublemakers or too bad to deserve a home. In reality, the children end up in the foster home because of neglect or parental abuse and not because of a fault of their own. Many children might have special needs and require extra support, but good foster care agencies provide the necessary resources to the foster parents and equip them with guidance and right tools. All children need consistent care, which means going beyond to ensure their well-being and growth.

2.    Adoptive parents need to be married, heterosexual and stay-at-home parents

Each family is different, and people from all backgrounds can foster kids. You don’t necessarily need to own home or already have children or be wealthy. To foster the child, you need to be loving and willing to meet the challenges of parenting. Foster parents can continue to work a full-time job and make use of the childcare options. It is no different from caring for your biological child. All that is needed to foster a child is an open heart. The only thing that is a necessity is that you have a spare room for the child.

3.    Adoptive parents should be less than 50 years of age

There is no perfect age to be foster parents. A study shows than one in four foster children live with parents who are more than 55 years of age. All that matters is the willingness to pledge to parenthood.

4.    Biological parents can reclaim the children

Most people considering fostering believe that biological parents can regain custody post-adoption. But the truth is that biological parents have no way to regain custody of the child once their parental rights are terminated. Foster parents have the same responsibilities and rights as biological parents. It means that the foster children have the social, emotional, familial, and legal benefits of biological children.

5.    It is expensive to foster a child

Foster parents are not expected to foot the entire bill of the children in their care. Daily payment is designed to cover the basic need of every child. The amount received depends on the level of needs and the age of the child. Children in foster homes are generally insured, and thus, the adoptive parents need not pay for their health care.

6.    It is challenging to become foster parents

Typically to become the foster carer will take roughly eight months, and it involves a series of assessments ad visits with social workers before the final interview with the panel is scheduled. This journey is crucial as it gives you time to reflect on what it will mean to become a foster parent and also provide you with time to ask important questions.

Things To Look for when choosing the Foster Care Agency

With more than 700 independent fostering agencies and trusts offering fostering services, choosing the foster care agency is a tough decision. The significance of sound foster care agency can’t be overemphasized. It is time-consuming but worth it. Here are six things to look for when choosing a foster care agency:

1. Responsiveness: As foster parents, you will need to contact the agency several times. The agency should respond quickly and offer the required support whenever necessary. The best way to know this by assessing how they react before you join. When you make a call at their office, do they respond timely or you end up in an endless loop of voicemail with people taking several days to get back to you. The agency that treats you like this, in the beginning, will not be any different after you sign the contract. So, avoid selecting such agencies.

2. Personal attention: When you first get in touch with the agency, how much individual attention do you get? Does the foster care agency invite you for a one-to-one session with a counselor, or do they heard you into group orientations? You will have several questions to ask; therefore, you need time to ask them. If the organization can’t give you a few hours up front to know you how can you expect them to make the proper placement of children in your home in times to come.

3. Agency tour: All foster homes look good on brochures and online websites. But remember there is no substitute for taking a personal trip of the organization. Ensure that the place is welcoming and clean, has adequate staff, and offer support groups. Take a walk through their facility to know how the organization works.

4. Opportunities and programs for children: For overall development of the child, it is critical to have not only a loving foster family but also a supportive community. The community should allow families to connect with other children and learn alongside them. It is better to look for a foster home that has year-round activities and celebrations so that everyone feels like one large family. Foster parents get the chance to connect with children and other foster parents as well.

5. On-site childcare: Proper foster care should have a lot of classes and support groups. While you are participating in the sessions, the kids can participate in fun activities. Also, check what kind of assistance is offered by the organization.

6. Supportive community: The foster home should provide the necessary support and encouragement. Check if they have dedicated home supervisors to help you throughout the process. Also, ask do they offer opportunities for foster parents to get together and share their experiences.

In the end, remember every agency is different; you need to choose the one that suits your needs. Decide whether you prefer a community-oriented agency or education opportunities oriented. It is best to look for the agency that reflects your intentions to ensure a smoother experience.