Can I work and be a foster carer?

Working while fostering is possible, but your employment must fit around the needs of the child or young person placed with you. You do not usually have to give up your job automatically; instead, the fostering assessment looks at whether your work pattern, childcare arrangements and wider support network provide enough availability and stability.

The practical arrangements will depend on factors such as:

• your contracted hours, shifts, travel time and scope for flexible working;
• whether you work from home, away from home or in a role that involves regular overnight stays;
• the age, needs and circumstances of the child you may care for;
• who can provide suitable care when you are working, and whether they have been assessed or approved where required;
• how you would attend meetings, training, appointments and reviews; and
• whether other people in your household can share day-to-day responsibilities.

Some fostering placements are more compatible with full-time employment than others. A child who is settled in school and needs routine care may have different requirements from a young person with additional needs, a child experiencing difficulties at school, or a placement involving frequent appointments and professional support. Your assessing social worker will discuss the types of placement that may be appropriate in light of your job and household circumstances.

Fostering services need to know that a child will not be left without suitable supervision. If your usual working hours prevent you from being available, you may need to consider changes such as flexible hours, home working, adjusted shifts, annual leave, or an agreed childcare arrangement. Any arrangement must be safe, reliable and suitable for the child’s individual needs. It should also be discussed with the fostering service before you accept a placement.

Employers may have their own policies for foster carers. You can ask about flexible working, carers’ leave, compassionate leave or other options that could help you manage appointments and placement-related responsibilities. The exact options depend on your employment contract and the circumstances of the placement, so it is sensible to check directly with your employer and avoid making assumptions about entitlement.

Employment is considered as part of the wider fostering assessment rather than in isolation. You will be expected to provide information about your work, income, commitments and availability. The assessment may also explore how you would respond if a child needed additional support during the school day, became unwell, or required an appointment at short notice. A clear plan is more useful than simply stating that you can be flexible.

Training and preparation are also part of the process. Before approval, you will need to complete the training and assessment activities arranged by the fostering service. After approval, foster carers continue to attend training, reviews and meetings. Consider how you would fit these into your working pattern and whether your employer would need advance notice.

Fostering payments are intended to contribute towards the costs of caring for a child and may include a professional element, depending on the fostering service and placement. They should not automatically be treated as a replacement for employment income. Payment arrangements, allowances and tax treatment can vary, so ask for current information and consider taking independent financial advice before making decisions about your job.

If you are self-employed, work shifts or run a business from home, the same principle applies: you need to demonstrate that the work can be managed alongside fostering. A written plan covering working hours, school runs, supervision, emergency contacts and backup care can help your assessing social worker understand how the arrangement would work in practice.

You should also discuss your plans with everyone in your household. Fostering affects routines, privacy and responsibilities, so the assessment will consider whether the proposed arrangement is realistic for the whole household. If your work pattern changes after approval, tell your fostering service so that the impact on current or future placements can be reviewed.