Who makes a good foster carer
People with a variety of life experiences and from all religious, ethnic and cultural backgrounds can become successful foster carers.
To be a good foster carer you will need:
- Patience and an understanding of the needs of children in foster care
- Experience of looking after children
- Time and energy to care for children who may have complex needs.
Foster carers need to have a flexible and non-judgemental approach, as well as lots of patience and understanding. A sense of humour is also a necessity!
You do not need to be married or own your home to be a foster carer, but you do need to be committed to supporting children and young people to enable them to reach their full potential.
Overall the role of a foster carer is to help children to feel settled, confident and happy whilst also being supportive of their family relationships.
Foster carers will need to have lots of time and energy to invest in a child or young person. Communication is essential , not only with children and young people but with social workers, the children's birth families and others concerned with the wellbeing of the children in their care.
