Do You Need Qualifications to be a Foster Carer?
Becoming a foster carer has qualifications. Find out what you need to become a foster carer here.
Are planning to become a foster carer but worried about the qualifications? We have all the answers that you need to get started as a foster carer in the UK.
A foster carer…
A person that takes care of children or young people who are unable to live with members of their birth family.
The UK career service has listed fostering as a career that requires dedication when you decide to become one. With this in mind, you must decide if fostering is ideal for you based on the requirements.
Do you need a professional qualification to become a foster carer?
Firstly, you must recognise fostering as a formal job that has its set of requirements.
But, you don’t need any formal qualification to become a foster carer in the UK. There is no college or university course that you must attend to become a foster carer.
The only thing that you must fulfil is the various requirements set by the UK government governing foster care services in the country.
Can formal education help your application?
Well, there is no educational qualification to become a foster carer. However, if you have a college degree in fields that can help in handling children.
Further, specialised courses like psychology, psychiatry, or any special need course can make you become a specialist foster carer. Therefore, relevant formal education can boost your application process but is not a requirement. Training is provided to all carers to support them to care for fostered children.
Basic requirements needed to become a foster carer
Having demystified the fact that you don’t need a formal qualification to become a foster carer, we will share what it takes to become a foster carer.
- You must be 21 years of age or above
- You must be a citizen of the UK or have permanent residency in the country
- You must pass the enhanced background checks
- You need a spare bedroom for the foster child
You can become a foster carer if you meet these basic requirements.
Are there mandatory training courses for foster carers?
Yes, there are courses that you must do to be registered as a foster carer in the UK. Your foster agency will advise you on the duration of these courses as soon as you start your application.
Some of the basic courses that you will undertake during the initial training include Safeguarding, First Aid, Record Keeping, and Child Sexual Exploitation among other basic courses. Please contact us to know the exact courses and their timelines.
Getting started…
Now that you know that you don’t need any professional qualification to become a foster carer in the UK, why don’t you begin your application today? Get in touch with us and our social worker will start processing your application.
