Work

[cazzmags]

I just wondered if any of you who foster school age children (short or long term) have full time jobs as well as being a foster carer?

[suzylee73]

Hi cazzmags
I work for an IFA so I get an allowance for the kids and a professional fee for me as I am not allowed to work as well as foster. There are meetings and training to attend so working full time would not be an option for me.
I'm not sure but I think some LA's don't mind if you work, hopefully another carer will answer that for you :)

[scarlet5tyger]

Hi Cazzmags, I foster for my LA and they require one foster carer to be home at all times even for school age children. As one fellow foster carer said to me recently - "just because they're school age doesn't mean they go to school!" I think she's spent more time at school for her latest FC than the child has!!

[queststarz]

Hi

I work 2 days a week and have a 5 and 7 yr old in placement at the mo. they are good attenders (something i stipulated when i was considering placements) but I've still had to have time off when they're sick etc. There are meetings etc to attend, but the sw is generally pretty good at arranging them when i'm not at work and school are also very accomodating. I did get offered children who were excluded/not good attenders and had to say no. I can't imagine working full time and keeping on top of the house/paperwork/shopping/meetings etc - maybe if you had very flexible employers

[freddiefrog]

I had to get a work excemption from our LA to allow me to work flexibly, part time, from home

Although, I would say, that my FC is school age and has been here a year and only started reliably going every day when she started college in September, so don't assume they'll be in school while you work