Can I Foster a Child if I Work Full Time?
It’s a common concern, you’d love to foster, but you’re not sure if it’s possible alongside a full-time job. At Family Fostering Partners, we understand that work is an important part of life, but fostering is also a big commitment. That’s why we’re honest with potential foster carers about the time and flexibility the role requires.
Why Time Matters in Fostering
Fostering isn’t just about providing a safe place to live, it’s about being present. Children looked after often need extra reassurance, consistency, and emotional support. This can mean attending school meetings, therapy sessions, training days, and being there during the school day as well as after.
While some foster carers do continue working, we encourage people to think carefully about whether their job will allow enough flexibility to prioritise a child’s needs. Sometimes, this means reducing working hours or moving to part-time work. In a fostering partnership, the other member of the couple is welcome to work full time.
Financial Support for Foster Carers
Fostering is a paid role, and at Family Fostering Partners, we provide generous weekly allowances to cover both a child’s needs and your work as a foster carer. While the exact amount depends on the type of placement, you can expect the allowance to be enough to help you focus more on fostering and less on relying solely on another income.
This support means some carers choose to step away from full-time employment altogether, while others combine fostering with part-time work or self-employment that fits around their fostering responsibilities.
Making the Decision
If you’re currently working full time, fostering is still possible, but it’s worth having an honest conversation about how it would work in practice. Think about your working hours, your flexibility for emergencies, and whether you could adapt your schedule to put a child’s needs first.
We’re here to talk through your options, explain the financial support available, and help you work out what’s realistic for your situation.
If fostering is on your mind, reach out to Family Fostering Partners. We’ll give you clear, honest advice about balancing work and fostering so you can decide what’s right for you, and for the child who could soon be part of your family.
