Jobs and Careers - South London 2012/13 - (Page 7)
foster care
caring and sharing
We take a look at the merits of foster care as a career
F
oster care has traditionally been recognised as a way for people to better the lives of children by taking them into their own homes and looking after them. Foster carers share this responsibility of care with a local authority or the child’s parents, whether this is on a short- or long-term basis. It is a way of providing help and care to children whose parents are unable to look after them. All children deserve a loving home environment in which they can feel safe and protected and where they are able to get away from at time serious problems, which could include domestic violence or drugs misuse. This rewarding opportunity is now being perceived as an opportunity for professionals to excel as well as benefit the lives of children. Children’s well-being obviously remains the impetus for the sector, but more and more people and organisations alike are realising the additional financial gains of fostering.
RUNNING LOW
With a national shortage in foster carers (for instance, a survey by the Fostering Network of 128 fostering services found that 98 per cent have a current shortage of foster families for teenagers) attracting people to foster as a career is an intelligent way to help vulnerable children and decrease unemployment simultaneously. In addition, one of the most significant problems that fostering is confronting presently is that almost two-thirds of foster carers are over the age of 50. The shortage of carers also means that there is less choice for social services to place children, resulting in many children being separated from their siblings or moved from home to home – which can be traumatic especially for already troubled children. The aim of foster care is to provide stability for children so by ensuring there are as many carers as possible means that they will be matched to a well-suited carer from the start. Fostering then, is a great chance to build a rewarding career that benefits not only you, but the lives of the children too.
GettING qUaLIfIed
As well as gaining transferable skills through foster care, you can study for a qualification such as an NVQ (National Vocational Qualification). The most appropriate NVQ for foster carers is The Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce.
www.jobsandcareersmag.com
07
http://www.suttonfostering.org.ukhttp://www.suttonfostering.org.ukhttp://www.jobsandcareersmag.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Jobs and Careers - South London 2012/13