I am a Social worker - but should I stay one?

[slipperandpjsmum]

I am a child protection social worker but I have been thinking for around 5 years of becoming a foster carer. What are peoples thoughts on this, not really in relation to my job but about becoming a foster carer. I feel I don't really do anything worthwhile in my job and the policies and procedures feel like straight jackets most of the time. I do not directly support foster carers but do meet with them and always leave their homes thinking they are the ones making the real difference. Should I go for it and apply????

[claire201]

Why don't you become a social worker who assess potential carers for a private agency? My social worker was in a similar role to you but now works for a well known charity and really enjoys it. I suppose she only deals with the nicer bits of social work and still has contact with the kids.

I am a foster carer and although it is rewarding I do miss being in a more conventional office environment, so I would advise you to think very hard about this before giving up work full time. perhaps you could go part time at work and foster a school age child.

[sumum]

yes you are right foster carers do make a real difference to childrens lives.

BUT it is 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It's so full on it's hard to describe. If you can get your head round that then go for it.

You can always do agency/reports between placements and you will be starting out with a much greater understanding of lac needs.

[Bluebell99]

As someone who used to be a social worker, child protection and then fostering and adoption, and prior to that residential work with children with emotional and behavioural difficulties, I think what I enjoyed most and where I achieved the most, was directly working as a houseparent. That school/ therapeutic community has now closed down though. You could become assessed and do respite fostering? Could you afford to foster full time (doubt it would pay as much as social work?) Also would you mind other people making the decisions about the children you are caring for? I think that would be hard. Could you move into a fostering and adoption team?