What Makes a Good Foster Carer?
There is a set of skills a foster carer is expected to have. Do you know what they are? Learn here the expectations of a good foster carer.
Becoming a foster carer isn’t just about looking after children; it involves many other things that are combined to make the life of fostered children as happy and stable as it can be. Therefore, you need to learn about the qualities of a good foster carer before you become one. Even if you are already one, you can enhance your fostering abilities using this set of good qualities.
Qualities of a Good Foster Carer
Experience of living with children
Living or working with children is an admirable quality because it shows your genuine commitment to helping children. It is not a must for you to have your children but it can be great if you have lived or worked with children before.
Understanding and empathy
Children coming into foster care have varied backgrounds. As a foster carer, you need to be empathetic about their situation. You must understand where the children are coming from and share with them their troubles. Immersing yourself in their world will help you understand their personal feelings better.
Supportive and encouraging
A good foster carer should also support the foster children to become happy and thrive in life. Regardless of the children’s backgrounds, always encourage them about a positive future. Show some sincerity in your encouragement to give the children hope for a better future.
Patience
Some children will move into foster care unhappily. This burden is transferred to the foster carer who needs to be patient with the foster child as they handle their personal and family issues. However, patience doesn’t mean ignoring the child; it means constantly helping the child even when they are difficult to handle.
Teamwork
Fostering isn’t a person’s job; it involves a team. There is a foster carer who links up with the fostering agency, the child’s family, the local authority, medical practitioners, and social workers. Therefore, teamwork is a desirable trait that a good foster carer must have.
A good listener
A good foster carer needs to be a good listener. They should prioritise the issues of the fostered child they are caring for over their own. A child is likely to become better socially if they have someone who listens to them.
Willing to ‘let go’
One of the most vital qualities that you will need as a foster carer is ‘letting go’. The foster child that you are caring for will have to go at some point, thus, you need coping skills after the child has left. Of course, there will be a special bond created, and you will have to learn to let go.
Summary: Have a BIG Heart
In summary, what makes a good foster carer is a combination of various qualities. They are all embedded in having a big heart to care for children. With a big heart, you will find it easy to cope with the children that you are caring for.
