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A Good Carer

What makes a good foster carer?

The Fostering Foundation believes that the most important qualification for making a good foster carer is a caring, understanding, reliable and supportive nature.

Carers can be single, or have a partner. You do not need to be any particular age (though you do need to be an adult). Some of you will have children of your own at home; for others, your children will have grown up and left home; others will not have had children of their own.

You'll need to listen and learn and you shouldn't be afraid to ask questions or seek help. You'll have to be flexible but you should also feel rewarded by the experience.

We believe that:

  • The best carers are those who take the time to listen to children; to talk with them; empathise with them; are intuitive to their needs and are capable of building that bond of trust, support and understanding that is essential to underpin a successful placement.
  • The best carers are those who are champions for the children in their care; can laugh with them and also be there to support them in times of trouble and upset.
  • The best carers are those who earn respect from children and give affection to them appropriately and freely.
  • The best carers are those who display calm, control and direction when relationships with children get strained or when circumstances are stressful.
  • The best carers are those who can deflect anger in others and project reason.
  • The best carers are those who are interested to hear about the events of the child’s day and will acknowledge and give praise for progress, no matter how small or insignificant that progress may seem.
  • The best carers are those who are constant.
  • The best carers are those who care.

Developing carers

The Fostering Foundation, through its support networks and training plans for carers, brings out the best in its carers, and aims to develop, in those people displaying the basic qualities referred to above, confidence, competence and the professional skills so that they will be the best carers.
The Fostering Foundation cares about its carers.