Fostering and Working

[HelloGoodbye86]

Hi,

My husband and I both work, however we are really interested in fostering, I just wondered if those that foster still work and how you find it around your role and responsibilities as a foster carer.

Thanks

You need someone at home 24/7 which in most cases means one person gives up work to be come a foster carer. You have to be able to demonstrate that you can afford to live on one salary and not be dependent on the fostering allowance.

In our case, we couldn't afford to do that. I work 20 hours over 2 days, and DH works 30 hours over 3 days, so we split the responsibility.

Thank you, is there a threshold or is it all assessed on your individual income / outgoings. My husband and I currently work opposite days / times to care for our children, without using childcare. (we do 26 hours each) so we could potentially continue doing what we're doing X

Yes, that is what we do!
I will say that it is bloody hard work though.

Hi, my husband and I both work (husband F/T, me 4 days a week), but I work in a school so it means I am available during the school holidays. We only take school age children though. I think it depends on your LA.

We were told we couldn't be considered as foster carers unless one parent was at home full time. We also had to show pay slips and proof of income. The children we have fostered over the years have been out of school a great deal one way or another, so it would have been impossible to have worked part time, even with school age children.