Fostering

uncommonadvice

What are people experiences of being a foster parent? Is there a big demand? What tests do you have to pass to qualify? How many kids will you be looking after and for how long? Are the wages pretty standard across the UK or does it differ from county to county? Can you still keep on a full time job? Could you still have a full time job if it was "from home"?

uncommonadvice

I am interested to hear all opinions

MUMMYTO2BOYS

I don't think this should be in 'up your income'

If you choose to foster the financial implications should be fairly low down on the list of pros and cons

Raquela

yes, I would hope that those fostering aren't doing it for any financial gain (and i would imagine there isn't any), but because they want to care for kids who don't have anyone else.

briona

uncommonadvice wrote: »

What are people experiences of being a foster parent? Is there a big demand? What tests do you have to pass to qualify? How many kids will you be looking after and for how long? Are the wages pretty standard across the UK or does it differ from county to county? Can you still keep on a full time job? Could you still have a full time job if it was "from home"?

Since one o'clock this morning you have posted threads asking about Zopa, a "from home" off-licence, free SIA qualifications, setting up a charity, the cheapest guaranteed-pass LGV courses, discussing entrepreneurial ideas, second-hand car sales, Amazon sales, small businesses and now fostering...

This suggests to me that you are simply interested in money-making, regardless of source. Wanting to make money is not a problem; wanting to benefit from children/adolescents in need of care is, quite frankly, distasteful. I sincerely hope you never get approved to foster!

Chell

Raquela wrote: »

yes, I would hope that those fostering aren't doing it for any financial gain (and i would imagine there isn't any), but because they want to care for kids who don't have anyone else.

Sadly these days many do foster for the money as it is advertised as a 'job' with a high income by many agencies.

My parents have fostered for about 17 years, they started when my brother left home as they didn't like the house being quiet. It certainly has many ups and downs.

It is sad that people no longer apply for the right reasons but to gain monetary rewards.

sharpe106

Its pretty sad that somebody can see this as a money making oppotunity, if you want to do it for the right reasons then there is nothing wrong but to just do it for the money is not right

jane130

unfortunalty there are peole out there who foster for the money - my in laws were a prime example of that , thankfully though these are the fostercarers that don't do it for long - its not easy money by any means.

gizmo111

I disagree, why would you give up many hours of time and open your home to damaged children who need the very best care and time for nothing. You have endless reviews, social work visits as well as restrictions on your freedom and expectations on how you care for these children far above what you would do for your own. You also have to keep up training as well as up to date legislation etc.

Many agencies do not allow you to work whilst fostering and pay an amount to reflect that.
Fostering is a profession and should be renumerated as such, it is simply professional work from home and not suited to everyone. There is a long assessment which can be quite intrusive before you get approved, far
more vigourous than that of any other job selection process I know of.
However I don't thin that it should be entered just for the money, or that the OP is going to be the best candidate!

sharpe106

I think that foster cares should get something yes as it will be hard and expensive to them, but I do not think it should be the prime motivation

gizmo111

sharpe106 wrote: »

I think that foster cares should get something yes as it will be hard and expensive to them, but I do not think it should be the prime motivation

Which is what I said in the post above.