Fostering - can we afford it??

Peeky_Joe

My wife and I have been discussing recently the possibilty of fostering children in the future. We both think it's a very rewarding thing to do and are keen to do it.
My only hesitancy is with regard to finances. I currently earn around £40k and my wife around £25k. She is prepared to give up work and be a full time carer. Here are where my questions start. I'm going to assume that it will be ok for her to continue to work full time whilst the application and vetting process is carried out. After that what happens? I understand she'd get weekly payments from the fostering agency whilst a child was with us, but what happens when the child returns to their biological family? If there is a period of a month between getting the next child, is my wife unemployed for that month?
I guess this is my major concern and it's not clear at all on any of the websites I have seen. Hopefully the good people of MSE can help.

Thanks

kaz0705

I think it depends on how demanding the child(ren) placed with you is (are). I would imagine that your wife could potentially return to work part time but you must be realistic: the majority of children in care have been placed there due to abuse and neglect. You can't just say at 8.30am 'right, get on the bus to your new school and we'll both see you at 6pm' or whatever. They will need stability and support which two working parents might not be able to give, in these circumstances.

However, you will get an allowance. Some pay between £350-£450 a week which, presumably, would be tax free.

As with birth children, you manage on what you have, money-wise. It is the emotional cost you need to consider... But, that feeling when you know you've helped a previously neglect child-well, that's got to be priceless.

Do a google search. Check out your local authority's page and maybe some fostering charities, see what you think.

This might be useful:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9llGN_wS2RU&feature=relmfu

heretolearn_2

As far as I am aware you only get paid while you actually have a child(ren) placed with you, not otherwise.

A couple I know both work and foster, so it isn't impossible. They have under 10s as well so just include these children in with their own children's childcare.

mirrorimage0

yes she can work whilst all the vetting is going on etc, you generally get a 3 day course you have to both attend so will need time off for this. then once you have been accepepted fully there will be other training that the main carer has to do.

you are correct in thinking that you only get paid when you have a foster child placed with you. and in some instantces this can take months at a time remember they are matching up the childs needs to the foster family and vice versa so they shouldnt be just giving you anyone who comes along first.

you need to make sure you have enough savings for your wife not to work, or not be too stretched on your finances alone. you may get a foster child that is great and fits in well and stays for yrs but realistically you wont.

good luck in what you decide to do.

DizzyDizzy

What a wonderful thing to be considering! I've always thought after my kids have grown that I would maybe like to "give something back" and foster.

I don't know anything useful that would help you I'm afraid, but I know a lot of families in this country do manage on 40k or less and are just fine. You may need to adjust your lifestyle slightly (who doesn't?) but it would be so rewarding. All the kids need will be food, clothes (not designer!) and most important, your and your wifes love and care.

Good luck x

Lleucu

Fostering payments vary widely in the UK, depends on the agency, the degree of difficulty of the child and the level of the foster carers, many pay more for skills.

In the local authority I know best they pay Levels 1 - 4 and a retainer if children are not placed, progression depends on NVQ, experience and assessment.

Foster carers are self employed see the Fostering Network for details of allowances but they are quite generous.

It depends if you want to do short term or long term. Most foster carers start with short term so matching is not quite so relevant.

Work and fostering is sometimes allowed but most agencies insist on one person being at home. Many though not all the children have problems and need one stable person at home. There are also a multiplicity of appointments, meetings, reviews etc.

A good assessment process (which takes about 6 months) should deal with most of your questions but the Fostering Network is very good and you could also ask your social worker to meet an experienced foster carer to hear it how it is.

Think hard about the impact on your own children, as children who foster often resent the amount of time and energy the foster children take up. Also think how your wider family are going to view it, I can think of hurtful actions by wider family members impacting on the foster child eg no invitation to a family wedding, extended family holiday excluding the foster child.

Finally you will have to develop a Zen like calm to cope with stroppy birth parents, non arrival of money or expenses, variable social workers, paediatricians who regard your judgement as unreliable, courts which make seemingly odd decisions, endless meetings and assessments and complaints against you.

If you can retain a sense of humour and be a strong advocate for the child / and keep the birth parents on side as well, it is also highly rewarding.

Good luck.

kingfisherblue

It might be worth trying some respite fostering to start with - that way, you can both carry on working during the week. In my area, respite foster carers are badly needed.

For those unsure of the term respite foster carer, it is someone who has a disabled child once or twice a month, for the weekend. This then gives the family some much needed respite from their caring role, and possibly time to spend with other children who might otherwise miss out on attention. You have the same child, so you are able to build up a relationship with them and their families (and the families are likely to be less stroppy, as they apply for this sort of help, rather than having it forced upon them). Some families and the corresponding foster family forge good, long term relationships, benefitting all involved.

It is demanding, and you have to be able to cope with disabilities, but it is a vital role to help families of disabled children. It isn't a service that I use, but I know that my local Social Services has a waiting list of families. There was a lot of interest from parents of disabled children at a meeting earlier in the year - but unfortunately, less interest from potential foster carers.

There is training and support, as well as monetary payments, but you are unlikely to have to deal with clothes shopping, medical appointments, ungrateful birth parents, etc. On the other hand, you might need to help children with personal care (including toileting), behavioural issues, poor sleep patterns, administering medication, etc.

XxStephxX

Peeky_Joe wrote: »

My wife and I have been discussing recently the possibilty of fostering children in the future. We both think it's a very rewarding thing to do and are keen to do it.
My only hesitancy is with regard to finances. I currently earn around £40k and my wife around £25k. She is prepared to give up work and be a full time carer. Here are where my questions start. I'm going to assume that it will be ok for her to continue to work full time whilst the application and vetting process is carried out. After that what happens? I understand she'd get weekly payments from the fostering agency whilst a child was with us, but what happens when the child returns to their biological family? If there is a period of a month between getting the next child, is my wife unemployed for that month?
I guess this is my major concern and it's not clear at all on any of the websites I have seen. Hopefully the good people of MSE can help.

Thanks

What a lovely thing to do!! I grew up in foster care so talking from what i have seen/know depending where you are in the country its never really a great length of time without a child there we would normally have 1-2 weeks until some one else had moved in. Some children end up staying for years so depending on how many you foster you wont have to worry about having financial problems during that period of having no child there.

Both my foster parents worked and if they couldnt make it back in time or a new child had recently moved in we had a respite carer to meet us at the house show us where things were if we forgot etc so maybe thats an option if you both felt you needed to work but wanted to foster?