What To Expect As A Foster Carer?

By Author: Horizon Fostering Services
Total Articles: 7
Comment this article

Great news, you've just been approved as a foster carer in the UK. So, what's next for you? It's a question that we'll explore here to help you plan ahead.

As a foster carer, you might wonder what to expect when caring for a child or young person in your home. Will it be difficult? What if we told you exactly what to expect as a foster carer? This article explains what you should do.

You won’t select a child from a pool of children
When you become a foster carer, you will not be asked to choose from a list of children. The child that comes into your home will be selected by the fostering agency using criteria that the agency will share with you.
Choosing the right foster child can be challenging. However, this doesn't mean that you can't influence the kind of child you will foster. When applying to become a foster parent, you will select the preferences of the kind of child that you are comfortable with. For example, you may be looking for teens or maybe older children or children with special needs.

There are no trial periods
There is no trial period for fostering, once you are approved, ...
... and a foster child is moved into your home, we cannot move them out again.
We understand that unexpected situations do arise, and you will do what you can to support the child in your care. However, we don't expect such scenarios to arise because we match the child's needs with your fostering experience before placing them with you.

You will have responsibilities
Fostering is a privilege, but it also has its own challenges. During your orientation, we'll go over the responsibilities associated with fostering. Once you're approved as a foster carer, the following responsibilities will be part of your reality:
You will take care of the foster child as part of a team. Implicitly, you will work closely with the fostering agency, social workers, healthcare providers, schools, and the birth family in the development of the foster child;
You will maintain electronic records of the child;
You will attend meetings;
You will attend training sessions.
You will receive an allowance
We know you are not fostering a child for the allowance. However, we want you to know that an allowance is provided to caregivers who take in foster children.

This weekly fostering allowance helps you cover the expenses of caring for the foster child. The amount you receive depends on many factors, including where you live, how old the child is, the specific needs of the child, and your experience.

Every fostering agency sets its rates, but we estimate that you will get a minimum of £137 and £240 per week.

The child will leave
You will need to be ready when the foster child leaves your home. You are a temporary caregiver of the child or young person coming to your home. You shouldn't expect to live with your foster child for long.

Final thoughts
We're here to help you become a better foster carer by working closely with you throughout the entire process of application, and we'll be there for you even after you've been approved. If you have any questions about your next steps after a successful application, feel free to get in touch.

Horizon Fostering Services is one of the leading Ofsted-approved and registered fostering agencies in the UK. Contact us at 0208 200 2355 or Visit our website at https://horizonfostering.co.uk/ to become a Foster Carer.

Horizon Fostering is one of the leading independent Ofsted-approved and registered fostering agencies in the UK. We are specialising in placing foster carers with children who need their support. Our services include assessment of suitability and capacity, initial training, ongoing support, information on local activities and events, and monthly visits from our community office team members. Visit our website for more details on our services at https://horizonfostering.co.uk/