Foster carer

In this role you could:

• welcome a child or young person to be part of your family
•  care for and meet the emotional and social needs of a child
•  help with school work and promote a positive attitude to education
•  keep young people safe from harm and abuse
•  support the young people in your care and put their views forward
•  involve birth parents where possible

• sensitivity and understanding
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• the ability to work well with others
• to be flexible and open to change
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to understand people’s reactions
• thinking and reasoning skills
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

You'll also need a spare bedroom and for some agencies, you cannot have another job.

You can get into this role by applying directly.

With experience, you could help train new foster carers.