The Practical Benefits of Fostering

There are many benefits to being a foster carer. Not only will you play an active role in transforming young lives, but you’ll also embark on a new, varied career where no two days are the same. But what are the practical benefits of fostering a child? Let’s have a look. 

Fostering benefits you might not have considered 

When we think about the benefits of fostering, we often focus on the emotional rewards and the positive impact foster carers have on children and young people. While these are the most important aspects of foster care, there are many practical benefits that are frequently overlooked. However, these benefits can enhance the fostering experience and make it one of the most fulfilling careers you can choose.  

Fostering benefits

Financial benefits of fostering 

No one should be held back from fostering due to financial concerns. That’s why, an important practical benefit of fostering is the pay that allows you to make a meaningful impact without financial stress.  

Fostering is a full-time vocation, and at FCA Scotland, we recognise the work of our foster carers by offering a generous fostering allowance. Split into two parts: expenses of caring for a child and a professional fee, our fostering pay rewards your dedication to transforming young lives.  

As a foster carer, you’ll also benefit from qualifying care relief, a special tax rule that exempts most foster carers from paying any tax on their fostering income. This will leave you with more disposable income to spend on the things that really matter to you and your family.  

With allowances aside, what are some other practical benefits of fostering? Here are our top four. 

Professional training and development  

Many people view fostering as a selfless act of kindness, and in many ways, it is – you welcome children into your home and dedicate your life to changing theirs. However, fostering is also an exciting career opportunity, one where you’ll continuously develop and grow professionally.  

At FCA Scotland, we provide ongoing training that not only equips you to make a real difference in the lives of young people but also helps you expand your knowledge and gain transferable skills that will benefit your long-term career goals.  

Our mandatory training covers essential fostering topics such as child protection and teamwork, which will give you the foundational skills and confidence to foster. We also offer complementary training, where you can explore specialist subjects like complex trauma in greater depth. This advanced training will enhance your skill set and open doors to specialist fostering, such as caring for children with disabilities.  

We understand that our foster carers lead busy lives, which is why we offer both face-to-face and virtual training sessions that can be scheduled around your other commitments. Together, we’ll create a personal development plan tailored to your needs, interests, and goals, ensuring you thrive at every stage of your fostering journey.   

Accessible and wide-reaching support 

Fostering is a unique job role, and one of its great practical benefits is the support available to you whenever you need it.  

At FCA Scotland, if you have a question at 3 a.m., you can rely on our out-of-hours team to provide the answers you need. If you require a little more hands-on guidance, your supervising social worker or carer buddy will be by your side. Should the child in your care need more specialist support, our therapists and educational leads are on hand to offer their expert guidance, ensuring your whole family thrives. This is what we call our Team Parenting model.  

Team Parenting is about creating a supportive environment for both you as a foster carer and the children you care for. It’s about working together to help children understand their experiences and learn that trusting, unconditional, and loving relationships are possible by building healthy, positive attachments with you.  

While children are always at the centre of everything we do, we know that supported foster carers create happier homes and achieve more successful outcomes for the children in their care. That’s why when you foster with FCA Scotland, you can rest assured that you’ll receive support every step of the way. 

Becoming part of a like-minded community 

Although it may not seem like a practical benefit at first, becoming part of a like-minded community of fostering professionals offers more advantages than you might expect.   

At FCA Scotland, we believe in the power of community. Having a strong network of individuals to lean on not only enhances your emotional support but also provides opportunities to share experiences and learn from one another. Our communities include foster carers at all stages of the fostering journey, from new foster carers to those with years of experience. Some of our foster carers even volunteer to become carer buddies, offering mentorship as you find your feet.  

We host year-round events, activities, and support groups for all our foster carers, providing a chance to discuss the highs and lows of fostering and seek advice from those who ‘get it’. For example, if you’re facing a particular issue with the child in your care, other foster carers may be able to offer guidance based on their own experiences. You’ll work together to find a resolution and help refine each other’s skills and approach. An added bonus is that many of our foster carers become life-long friends, making the fostering experience even more rewarding. 

Additional perks and rewards  

At FCA Scotland, we truly value every single foster carer and the vital role you play in making a real difference in the lives of children and young people. That’s why, alongside your fostering allowance, you’ll also benefit from additional perks and rewards that enrich your fostering journey. 

Some of these include further financial benefits, such as a £250 summer and winter bonus each year, as well as an annual appreciation bonus that increases in line with your length of service. You’ll also have access to our foster carer rewards platform, where you can enjoy incredible discounts on your weekly shop, holidays, days out, and more– plus up to £3000 for every friend you successfully refer to become a foster carer.  

We host annual recognition events and a dedicated foster carer appreciation day to celebrate the incredible impact you have on young lives. To top it off, you’ll also receive a special gift or experience for each fostering milestone you reach. 

Start your journey today 

Whether you foster long-term, short-term, or in an emergency, you’ll reap the practical benefits of becoming a foster carer. So, if you’re ready to start your journey, please get in touch. Together, we can give children in Scotland a happy childhood and an optimistic future. 

Practical Benefits of Fostering

Is Fostering a Viable Career Change for You?

What makes fostering an amazing career choice?

Fostering is a career like no other. By choosing to become a foster carer with FCA Scotland, you’ll be doing a world of good for children across Scotland who are in need of a loving family home; changing not only their lives, but also your own for the better.  

There are lots of amazing factors which can make fostering a great career move, including: 

  • The opportunity to engage in life-changing work and make a real difference
  • A generous fostering allowance to say thank you for your hard work
  • Flexibility thanks to the various different types of fostering
  • Plenty of opportunities to build skills and develop your abilities 

Who can become a foster carer in Scotland?

Fostering a child takes dedication, hard work and lots of emotional intelligence. In order to become a foster carer in Scotland, you’ll need to meet a few requirements. Ask yourself… 

  • Am I aged 21+?
  • Do I have a suitable spare bedroom?
  • Do I have the legal right to work in the UK?
  • Am I passionate about helping to change the lives of young people? 

If you answered yes to all of those questions, you could be a great candidate to foster!  

How much do foster carers get paid? 

While finances are not the motivation behind becoming a foster carer, it’s crucial to recognize their significance when considering a big career change. Foster carers with FCA Scotland receive a generous fostering allowance whenever they have a child in their care. The amount you’ll receive depends upon a few different factors, including how many children you’re caring for, the ages of those children and their unique needs.  

To get an estimation of how much you could earn as a foster carer, try out fostering allowance calculator below. 

HOW MUCH COULD I EARN AS A FOSTER CARER?

Fostering and Finances 

Most foster carers are exempt from paying tax on their fostering allowance thanks to a government scheme known as Qualifying Care Relief. You will be classed as self-employed, meaning that you will be required to file a yearly tax return with the HMRC. 

In addition to our fostering allowance, we offer our foster carers a variety of additional financial benefits, including: 

  • Free family days out
  • An appreciation bonus which increases each year 
  • 14 nights of optional paid respite
  • Rewards when you reach special fostering milestones
  • Access to our exclusive discount scheme 

Can I continue working while fostering? 

Some people choose to make fostering their full-time career, while others choose to carry on working a regular job alongside fostering a child. If you’re interested in fostering while working, we’ll get to know your work schedule to make sure it aligns with the needs of a child, taking into account factors such as when you work, for how long, and whether you have a flexible and supportive employer. 

There are many different types of fostering to suit different lifestyles. These include:  

  • Emergency fostering, where a child is placed with a foster family for a short period of time, usually ranging from a few days to a few weeks.  
  • Interim fostering, where a child lives with their foster family temporarily, until they’re able to return home or until longer term plans are put in place for their care.  
  • Long-term fostering, where it is decided that a child will stay with their foster family until they are ready to live independently or move into new accommodation.   

Do I need experience to foster?  

If you’ve had previous experience of caring for children, whether your own little ones or in a professional setting such as being a teacher, early years practitioner or youth group mentor, you will no doubt be bringing invaluable experience to your role as a foster carer. Experience in other care professions or looking after a relative is also invaluable.  

While previous experience of caring for others will mean you bring lots to the role, we encourage you to become a foster carer regardless of whether or not you have any previous experience. Thanks to the excellent training opportunities we provide to or our foster carers, you’ll receive in-depth guidance on all aspects of parenting a foster child, including health and safety considerations, how to manage a child’s behaviour and how to support a child who has experienced trauma.  

Things to think about if you’re considering making fostering your career… 

 

  • Is my home suitable for welcoming a young person? You don’t need to own your own home to foster, but you do need to have a welcoming spare room which will always be available for a child to use. Your home must be clean, safe, and harmonious. As part of your fostering assessment we’ll also conduct a health and safety assessment on your home and on your pets, to make sure they’ll be safe around a child.   

 

  • Do I have the right personal qualities? In order to be a foster carer, you must be passionate about helping children in need of a loving home. When we seek out new foster carers, we’re looking for people who are resilient, compassionate, hard-working and who, above all, have a genuine desire to help transform the lives of vulnerable young people. 

 

  • Do I understand that fostering is a 24/7 commitment? Fostering isn’t a job in the traditional sense; money should never be the primary motivator. Fostering is a lifestyle, and you will need to live and breathe fostering in order to succeed as a foster carer. The children you welcome into your home will become a part of your family. As with any other style of parenting, being a parent to your foster child is a 24/7 responsibility. 

 

  • Who can I rely on for support? No one can foster without support from others, and it’s important to identify your support network. If you’re in a relationship, your key support will more than likely come from your partner. Working together as a team allows you to divide up responsibilities, work around one another’s schedules and fulfil all of your parenting responsibilities together.    

 

If you’re a single foster carer, you’ll be able to nominate a trusted family member or friend to help you with babysitting and childcare duties. All foster carers also benefit from our huge range of support, which includes support groups and regular events.  

Career progression opportunities for foster carers 

If you’re wondering what career opportunities are available for foster carers in Scotland, we here at FCA Scotland ensure that we’re always giving you opportunities to learn more and develop your career.  

For example, if you take part in our specialist training, you may be given the opportunity to offer specialist fostering which will allow you to support a child who has complex needs resulting from trauma. Foster carers who offer specialist fostering will receive a higher rate of fostering allowance.  

You’ll also have access to a wide library of optional training sessions which we run regularly, both virtual and online, as well as a variety of e-learning courses which can be completed at any time which suits you. Our courses cover a wide range of topics, including understanding eating disorders, parent and child relationships, staying safe while gaming and ensuring that a child’s cultural needs are met, meaning that you can tailor your learning to the individual needs of the children you care for. Our face-to-face and online sessions are also fantastic opportunities to meet and befriend other foster carers. 

I’m ready to become a foster carer— what’s next?  

If you’re ready to earn a living as a foster carer, a member of our team would love to chat with you about all the ins and outs of becoming a foster carer in Scotland. Simply contact us today by filling in our online enquiry form or giving us a call on 0141 646 4805.  

Ready to learn more? Check out our in-depth guidance on how to turn fostering into your career.  

How to choose a fostering agency

Becoming a foster carer is a big decision, but so is choosing the right fostering agency. As you start this life-changing journey, you need to be sure that your fostering agency will provide great support, extensive training and a network of professionals to help you along the way. In this article, we explore the key factors to consider when choosing a fostering agency to help you decide. 

Comparing independent fostering agencies 

With so many independent fostering agencies to choose from, it can feel overwhelming to decide which one will best suit your needs. To simplify the process, we’ve prepared some key questions to help you reflect so you can create a list of essential and ideal qualities to look for in a fostering provider. 

FCA Scotland fostering agency

Do they value their foster carers? 

Fostering is rewarding, but it is also a full-time job. So, when deciding which fostering agency to join, you need reassurance that they’ll value your hard work and dedication.  

Top tip: Fostering agencies that truly appreciate you as a foster carer will reward you with an excellent fostering allowance and additional benefits. 

For example, here at FCA Scotland, we’re transparent about fostering pay. Our fostering allowances are higher than recommended, and when you join us, you also benefit from a range of fantastic perks, including: 

  • A £250 summer and winter bonus. 
  • An annual appreciation bonus that increases in line with your length of service.  
  • Gifts and experiences for every fostering milestone you reach. 
  • 14 nights of paid respite care.  
  • Yearly recognition events. 
  • Exclusive discounts on your weekly shop, fun days out, gifts and more.  

Do they offer around-the-clock support? 

Do the fostering agencies you’ve been researching offer 24/7 support? If not, you may need to cross them off your list. Fostering is an around-the-clock role, so you need to be able to access support whether morning, noon or night. When you start your journey, you may also need a little extra guidance until you have firmly found your feet.  

At FCA Scotland, our wrap-around support for foster carers means you never have to face challenges alone. When you join us, your supervising social worker will meet with you regularly, offering a listening ear, advice and guidance. If you have a question out of hours, our experts are always waiting to assist you with our 24/7 helpline.  

You’ll also be assigned a carer buddy, experienced foster carers who have volunteered to help new foster carers settle into the role. They can provide additional support and answer any questions you may have. We’re here to support you, whatever you need, whenever you need it. 

role of foster parent

Do they invest in your professional development? 

If you have children of your own, you may think fostering will be a similar experience. However, fostering is a lot different to parenting your own children. Many children and young people in care have endured abuse, neglect or other distressing experiences, and they need your help to recover from their past so they can have the fulfilling future they deserve. 

In order to do so, you need training that dives deeply into attachment, trauma, and behaviour. Training that will provide a better understanding of what it’s like to be a young person in care and help you apply trauma-informed techniques in your everyday care. 

Top tip: Look for fostering agencies that provide ongoing training for every stage of your fostering journey, like we do at FCA Scotland.  

 

When you foster with us, our foster care training will help you feel confident in your role. Here’s what you can expect from our training: 

  • Induction training – During the assessment, you’ll enrol on our ‘Prepare to Foster’ training. This training will give you an introduction to fostering and prepare you for the next steps of your journey.  
  • Mandatory training – Our training on topics such as Attachment & Child Development, Managing Behaviour and First Aid will provide you with a solid foundation of skills and knowledge to build upon.  
  • Complementary training – Whether you have a child in your care with a specialist need or are just interested in learning more about a particular topic, this specialist training will help you develop professionally.  

Do they put children at the centre of their care? 

Fostering is about providing children and young people with safe, stable and nurturing homes where they have the space to heal, grow and develop healthy relationships that enhance their outcomes. It also involves recognising their unique needs and tailoring their care to meet them.  

Top tip: Children need to be at the centre of their care and may require input from fostering specialists to reach their full potential. So, when you’re researching fostering agencies, consider an agency that emphasises specialist input.  

At FCA Scotland, we put children first. Our Team Parenting model holistically cares for children and young people’s entire well-being. Whether they need therapeutic input or help with their education, our team of experts are on hand to support you and them.  

We listen to our young people, encouraging them to make decisions about their care and use their feedback to improve our services. We also ask them to take the lead in organising regular activities and days out so they can build friendships with other young people in care. 

Will you have a community to lean on? 

Fostering comes with many ups and downs, but having a community to lean on and share your experiences with can make the journey more manageable and rewarding.  

Top tip: Look for a fostering agency that prioritises community and nurturing connections with other foster carers.  

At FCA Scotland, we believe in the power of community. That’s why we encourage our foster families to connect through support groups, meet-ups, and fun activities – helping you build relationships with people who truly ‘get it’. Many of our foster families go on to become good friends, offering each other advice, guidance or simply a listening ear. 

choose a fostering agency

Are they keeping The Promise? 

In 2016, Scotland promised children and young people in care that they’d grow up feeling loved, safe and respected. This year, Scotland released their 24-30 plan, which provides guidelines on ‘who needs to do what by when to #KeepThePromise by 2030′. 

Top tip: When you’re searching for the right fostering agency for you, make sure they’re doing their part to #KeepThePromise. 

At FCA Scotland, we have embraced The Promise and are keeping it by focusing on Participation. We created the young people’s forum so children can meet with our leadership team to discuss what we’re doing, how we can improve and what they’d like us to do more of. We then use their feedback to take action, implementing changes so they always feel safe, loved and respected. 

Some of our young people are also involved in the foster carer recruitment process, and we organise fun activities and days out so they can relax and have fun. 

Can you change foster agencies? 

If you’re already a foster carer but feel like your fostering agency lacks some of the points mentioned in this article, you may wonder if you can transfer. The good news is you can transfer fostering agencies, and here is how.   

How to transfer foster care agencies 

When you switch to FCA Scotland, we simplify the transfer process and fast-track your application, which means you could be fostering with us within three months of enquiring. The transfer process is similar to becoming a new foster carer and involves the following steps:  

 

  • Enquiry – Contact our friendly team, who’ll provide you with more information about FCA Scotland and book a home visit. 
  • Home visit – We’ll visit you at home to chat about fostering with us and the transfer process, answering any questions you may have.  
  • Application – If you’d like to move forward, you’ll complete an application and let your current fostering provider know you intend to transfer.  
  • Assessment – You’ll undergo a fostering assessment, but the process will be quicker due to the experience and skills you’ve already gained.  
  • Panel – Your assessment will be reviewed by an independent panel.  
  • Transfer – Once approved, you’ll resign from your current fostering provider and begin your journey with us within one month.  

We hope you’ve found this article helpful, but if you’d like more information on how to choose a foster care agency or how to change fostering agencies, please get in touch. Together, we can transform the lives of young people in Scotland and beyond. 

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