Making the decision to become a foster carer is one you will take time over and it is important to know all the facts before making up your mind.
First and foremost, all foster carers usually meet on an annual basis with fostering service providers so any training needs can be identified. Training may be required to ensure you are properly equipped to continue fostering and knowing that you have this support in place is reassuring regardless of whether you are new to fostering or have been doing it for years.
You could also make use of training programmes which offer access to NVQ Level 3 Caring for Children and Young People so you can build your academic qualifications during your time as a foster carer.
Foster carers are helped by a qualified and suitably experienced supervising social worker as well. The supervising social worker visits on a regular basis to offer ongoing advice and support for foster carers and their families and telephone contact is usually possible too.
It also pays to look out for a fostering service that offers access to a telephone support service. Whether you need support during the day or at night time it is reassuring to know that help is only ever a phone call away and communication with carers is rapid and accessible at any point of crisis.
Regular support group meetings with other foster carers are beneficial as these gatherings allow you to share experiences and knowledge with people in the same situation as yourself. Sharing your fostering experience can help other people in a practical way and vice versa.
Your fostering service may also arrange activities for carers, their family and the children they look after so you and your family get a chance to meet other foster families and spend some fun time together.
In terms of financial remuneration, all foster carers should receive a minimum allowance to cover the cost of caring for a child in their home. The national minimum allowance rates depend on where you live as well as the age of the foster children you are looking after. The weekly rate can range from £109 to £191.
The national minimum allowances are only the base minimum rates and the actual allowance that a foster carer receives will depend on a number of different factors, particularly the specific needs of an individual child.
Current legislation means many foster carers throughout Britain do not pay income tax on any money earned from fostering. Foster carers may be exempt from tax on all or most of their fostering income, depending on how many children they look after, whether or not it is a full tax year and whether or not there are other foster carers in the same household.
Fostering [http://www.thefca.co.uk/what_is_fostering.php] also entitles you to a scheme called Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) which helps you to get a basic State Pension. From 2010, HRP will be replaced by weekly credits for foster carer.
First and foremost, all foster carers usually meet on an annual basis with fostering service providers so any training needs can be identified. Training may be required to ensure you are properly equipped to continue fostering and knowing that you have this support in place is reassuring regardless of whether you are new to fostering or have been doing it for years.
You could also make use of training programmes which offer access to NVQ Level 3 Caring for Children and Young People so you can build your academic qualifications during your time as a foster carer.
Foster carers are helped by a qualified and suitably experienced supervising social worker as well. The supervising social worker visits on a regular basis to offer ongoing advice and support for foster carers and their families and telephone contact is usually possible too.
It also pays to look out for a fostering service that offers access to a telephone support service. Whether you need support during the day or at night time it is reassuring to know that help is only ever a phone call away and communication with carers is rapid and accessible at any point of crisis.
Regular support group meetings with other foster carers are beneficial as these gatherings allow you to share experiences and knowledge with people in the same situation as yourself. Sharing your fostering experience can help other people in a practical way and vice versa.
Your fostering service may also arrange activities for carers, their family and the children they look after so you and your family get a chance to meet other foster families and spend some fun time together.
In terms of financial remuneration, all foster carers should receive a minimum allowance to cover the cost of caring for a child in their home. The national minimum allowance rates depend on where you live as well as the age of the foster children you are looking after. The weekly rate can range from £109 to £191.
The national minimum allowances are only the base minimum rates and the actual allowance that a foster carer receives will depend on a number of different factors, particularly the specific needs of an individual child.
Current legislation means many foster carers throughout Britain do not pay income tax on any money earned from fostering. Foster carers may be exempt from tax on all or most of their fostering income, depending on how many children they look after, whether or not it is a full tax year and whether or not there are other foster carers in the same household.
Fostering [http://www.thefca.co.uk/what_is_fostering.php] also entitles you to a scheme called Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) which helps you to get a basic State Pension. From 2010, HRP will be replaced by weekly credits for foster carer.