What Makes an Ideal Foster Carer – Would You Be a Good Fit?
There are many things you can do in life that are rewarding and can fill you with a sense of purpose. These are the kind of things that can make life feel fuller and can often have positive impacts not just on you, but others around you. One of the most rewarding things a person can choose to do is become a foster carer. In this role, you will provide a stable and supportive home for a child in need, and have the opportunity to bond with them. But do you have what it takes to become a foster carer? Here’s a deeper look at some of the qualities and traits you will need.
You Feel the Desire to Help Others
One of the cornerstone traits that foster carers often have is a deep desire to help others. If you’re the type that goes out of your way to help others and is sensitive to those around you then you could be the ideal person for fostering. Caring for any child means you’re able to place their needs and well-being as a priority. Experienced foster carers often explain it as a calling, something they felt they were born to do.
You Feel Like You Could Be a Positive Influence
This goes hand-in-hand with a desire to help others, but foster carers should also feel like they can make a positive difference in the life of a child. It means you know you have plenty to give, and that you can be a positive role model.
Patience and Understanding Will Take You Far
Here are two traits that anyone who works with or cares for children needs to have and that's patience and understanding. Being able to put yourself in a child's shoes, understand where they are coming from and show compassion are wonderful traits. These traits allow foster children to thrive.
You Have Available Space in Your Home
Then there is the logistics of fostering, which means you need to have space available in your home for a foster child. A spare bedroom is a legal requirement for children in care. They need to feel welcome, secure, safe and know they have their own space.
There are also some basic requirements for the bedroom. For example, you need enough space for:
- A single bed
- Wardrobe
- Chair
- Bedside table
- Cupboard or chest of drawers for their belongings
You can build upon the basics and give the room personality with decorative touches that will help them feel excited about the space.
Feeling Inspired to Pursue Fostering?
If all this talk of fostering has you feeling inspired, and you think you’d make a perfect fit, then it’s probably worth doing a little more research. Check out websites such as Foster Care Associates Scotland to get a better understanding of the process involved, and who is eligible to become a foster carer.
It is said that fostering children is a calling that some people are made for, and that calling could be perfect for you.
