fostering and pay worries

[awsomer]

I've recently started the assessment process to fostering and I'm so nervous and excited all at the same time!

I'm trying to think this through sensibly though (trying not to get carried away) and one of the issues I'm struggling with is whether or not it is actually physically possible to live off of the pay. I'm fully aware that this isn't a role you enter into for the money and I'll be leaving a well paid job to do it, I'm happy to make that change. But I'm worried that it just wont be enough to cover our rent/bills/etc. My partner makes much less than I do currently; £23,000 - and that will be our main source of income.

How do you all manage? Is it your partners who support the household financially?

(PS - sorry to be so frank about money, I just need advice - I never normally talk about it so openly and I hope I don't offend anyone.)

[DwellsUndertheSink]

why are you giving up your role, if you earn more than him? Fostering is never going to pay a fortune, even if you get a permanent placement. I do know a couple that both worked - he worked late nights, she worked school hours, and they managed OK as there was always someone at home.

[scarlet5tyger]

I think you should sit down and do a budget planner - incomings and outgoings.

It IS possible to survive on a fostering allowance (I'm a single carer and my LA is one of the lowest paying in the Country and i manage) but I worry about it constantly and can never turn down a placement. It's even more stressful at the moment as several carers have had long gaps between placements.

Are you being assessed by your LA (local authority) or an agency? An agency will pay more but you're much more likely to have gaps between placements.

[wonderpants]

We had to demonstrate that we had enough income to live on without fostering allowance. It is a tight squeeze, but we have recently had a wait of over 6 months between placements for carers of younger children. It isn't a steady, reliable income.

And I am sure it is obvious, but the majority of the payment goes on the child. I was amazed at how much a baby cost to keep when my energy bill came! I don't think we ''make" much money out of fostering.

[fasparent]

Would sound them out, get their opinions, we both worked for years, flexible jobs, not about money although helps a lot, We found FC were proud we both worked you don't get nothing out of life without ethic's, helps with school work as well . ??? What do your parents do for a living so some work outside of fostering can be important be it part-time voluntary, etc. Dependant on needs of the Foster Children which will always be paramount.

[awsomer]

Thank you all for your feedback, lots of food for thought :)

I'm currently a teacher with some leadership roles too, which comes with a huge amount of hours - both at school and in the evenings/weekends at home. There's no way I could be there for a FC and fit in the training and meetings while in my current role.

Fostering is something I really want to do so I'm willing to make the changes to do that. My partner obviously wants it too, but I'm the driving force behind it and we've both agreed that I should be the main caregiver.

At the moment I think it would be sensible to leave my current position but to sign up with a supply agency. That way I could work while waiting for placements. It would still mean having highs and lows in terms of incoming money but at least there would always be money coming in in some form. I would just have to learn how to budget a fluctuating income!

[scarlet5tyger]

The supply idea is good, but be aware most placements I've had have arrived within hours (and that's 1-2 hours, not 24-48 hours) of receiving a phone call about them. There are also countless times I've been told a child is on their way, only for them to not arrive at all (SS will usually try to find a place for a child before they ask court for an order to remove them).

Just a bit more food for thought!

[awsomer]

Thanks Scarlet!

All these little matters are such a 'learn on the job' kind of scenario, it's so so useful to have all of your insights.

[PlushSuppie]

Do you know how much your LA pay? You need to know so you can plan your budget.
Some La's pay very well and also pay a retainer if you don't have a placement.

[awsomer]

We've got our home visit this week so I'll add that to the list of questions, thanks! :)

[Joolsali]

Awsomer, I am a teacher who fosters. I find it Mich more rewarding to foster than teach. But I still teach part time and wouldn't give it up. Once you are out of teaching it's much harder to get back in. I know I can still do supply but supply is very seasonal (peaks Jan and Feb when all sick and depressed).

[Alijaybongo]

Hi. I too have had first home meeting. I have been
In my job working 25 hours for 15 years although there
Are rumours of changes going on. I was honest and mentioned this and today I have been told that maybe until I
Have a firm confirnation of if my job is safe I can't proceed
Any further at this point. I expressed an interest of birth to 5 years old. However what confuses me is that as I am a single parent I am being told I need to be in a stable job - but what confuses me is that they say if you get placed with a pre school child you need to be at home with them. I was advised to maybe widen my age request which at this stage I don't want to do. I currently have a good salary which is topped up by working tax credit and housing benefit. If I got made redundant would I need to look for another part time job in order to carry on the foster process - but then would that again then shrink the possible placements due to me working? It feels like a catch 22 situation !!

[scarlet5tyger]

Sorry to be blunt but I can't see any way that a single carer of pre school children could also work. Putting aside the meetings, medicals, stat visits and contact (for a pre school child this could be daily, and will usually be between 9-3 as older children obviously have the after school slots) your main task as a foster carer is to be there for the child to attach to, and to provide tem with an environment they feel safe in. I don't let my foster children out of my sight for the first few months.

Was your visit from a local authority social worker or an agency? I'd definitely be asking to speak to someone else because what you've been told today is wrong.

[BlueFireLady]

We were told during the application process that one of us HAD to be at home during the day, i work full time and Mr stays at home. And we foster 5-18 for LA. That was one of the things they were adamant about. Like scarlet says there are so many meeting and appointments during school hours it would be nigh on impossible to work and do the appointments.
Sorry to sound negative but i think you need to be asking more questions.
Hope you get the answers you want

[DennyDifferent]

I did supply between placements as the IFA wouldn't let us work when we had a placement. It worked well for me, a couple of times I had to make some very exciting and nerve wracking calls during breaks and lunch times, returning messages from the referral team which was a bit awkward in unfamiliar staffrooms. During long stretches between placements it felt like we were constantly on call, waiting for a call from the supply agency, waiting for calls from the fostering agency... But I still got to work with children most days one way or the other.

Good luck with it all.