Boost your career in 2024 – become a foster carer in Portsmouth

Portsmouth fostering experts Fair Ways reveal the surprising career – and income – benefits of foster caring. Supplied picture

The start of a new year is often a time to rethink career prospects, figure out finances and seek a better work-life balance. Becoming a foster carer ticks all those boxes.

There are many more benefits to being a foster carer than you might think: alongside the reward and satisfaction of making a difference to children and young people, fostering is a highly respected role with real career and financial prospects.

If you’re juggling family commitments and need more time at home, or maybe want to swap the drudgery of a commute to work and a mundane 9-5 role, then fostering can be a great option for you to explore.

Curious to find out more?

There are so many reasons to look at foster caring as your next career move. Supplied picture

Here, award-winning south coast fostering charity Fair Ways reveals the many benefits of becoming a foster carer in 2024. Some of which you may never have known.

It’s a proper job - with proper pay

Many are still under the impression that foster carers are volunteers or low-paid workers however foster carers get a carer fee and allowances for each fostered child to cover the costs that come with looking after each child.

A special tax scheme called Qualifying Care Relief is available for Foster carers. Every household gets a minimum Tax exemption of up to £18,140 on fostering income and, in addition, there is further tax relief for every week a child is with a foster carer.

Foster carers also receive extra allowances around festive celebrations and birthdays.

And, because foster carers register as self-employed, they can offset certain expenses such as a portion of the household utility bills and some travel expenses.

A foster carer with 2 children in their care could earn over £45,000p.a from fostering income without having to pay tax.

In fact, the majority of Foster Carers do not pay tax on their fostering payments* (Fostering Network)

Foster Carers do not foster just for financial reward. Typically, they are people with strong values and principles and a whole lot of love.

However, the combination of payments and tax allowances do mean that fostering is a vibrant career choice and an opportunity to really make a difference while also working from home.

You can find out about foster carers’ income at Fair Ways here.

You’ll perfect your skills and learn new ones

You don’t need formal qualifications to be a foster carer, just a desire to make a difference to the life of a local child and a loving heart.

During your time as a carer you’ll almost certainly develop useful new skills and take you on a whole new career path

That’s because foster carers don’t ‘just’ look after children and young people through difficult times.

They receive expert training to better understand children and young people's needs, safeguard and protect.

At Fair Ways charity, every foster carer has the chance to work within its other services on a temporary basis, either alongside fostering or between fostering placements. This is a great way to explore new roles, earn extra income and hone more skills.

You’ll find great work-life balance

Foster caring opens the door to working from home so there’s no more rushing to and from work, wasted time, long commutes, or spending hours away from loved ones and pets.

It’s not all work either: foster carers are entitled to holidays and, if they want a break from fostering but still want to stay involved, they might opt to work in other services linked to child care.

There are different types of fostering too – short term, long term, respite or emergency are just a few, so you can opt for the kind of caring that best suit you.

Find out more about the options here www.fairways.co/fostering-services/types-of-fostering

There’s real job satisfaction

Foster carers bring much needed stability and support to help children through a challenging time, even if it is just for a short spell.

Knowing you’re making a real difference can bring a true sense of satisfaction. You’ll be doing something that’s really important and potentially life-changing for them and for you.

Natalie Merriman, Head of Fostering at Fair Ways, said: “At Fair Ways we feel foster carers need to be recognised and respected as professionals and so we offer great pay, training and benefits to support that.

“Sadly, fostering is sometimes overlooked as a career choice when in reality it can be one of the most rewarding careers you can have.”

Could you do it?

Around 20,000 children and young people across England and Wales need some form of foster care.

Meanwhile, there’s a desperate need for around 10,000 foster carers in the UK.

If you’re over 21-years old, have a spare room – you don’t have to own your home – and have a driving licence, you could be on your way to a new career as a foster carer.

As Fair Ways points out, there’s no upper age limit, you don’t have to have a partner and there’s no need to have brought up children of your own.

Ready for a change?

Fair Ways is a charity that has been supporting foster carers and children for more than 20 years and is rated as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted for its caring and professional approach.

Whether you’re curious, ready to kickstart your new career or want to transfer from another agency, its highly experienced team can guide you through all you need to know.

To find out more or just have an informal chat about fostering, visit www.fairways.co/fostering-services, call 02382 543925, or email [email protected]