Becoming a foster carer

Foster carers come from all sections of society. The only special quality foster carers must have is a total commitment to looking after children and young people.

Carers need to promote all aspects of their welfare through high quality family support, as many children who are in care have had difficult past experiences.

Foster carers must be very tolerant, patient and understanding of the needs of children in their care.

RCT welcome applicants from a range of backgrounds who can address the needs of children arising from race, culture, ethnic origin, language, disability, gender and sexuality.

You may already have children of your own, if not, you might have experience of caring for them. But whichever category you fall into, you must be able to work well with others (including the child’s birth family) and be able to operate within our guidelines.

On the practical side of things, you should also be in good health, energetic and have enough room to accommodate one or more children into your home. You must also be willing to include them in family activities, and liaise with health professionals and schools to make sure their health and educational needs are met.

You will receive regular support through visits from a social worker, or “link” worker, who will be your personal contact for advice, support and supervision. This person is always different from the child’s social worker.

In the absence of your supervising worker, we will make available a duty social worker to answer any queries or discuss any difficulties you are experiencing.

Foster carers are also put in touch with one another via peer mentoring schemes, as talking to other carers can be very useful to resolve problems. You will not be alone in managing the challenges of any placement; you will be part of a team working together to achieve the best outcomes for the child.

You will have access to the friendship and support of other foster carers through the local foster carers support group. You can also become a member of the Fostering Network which provides help and advice.

If you would like more information on Fostering please contact the Recruitment Officer via the below contact details.