What makes a good foster carer

The role of a foster carer is to provide a stable source of support. So life experience, insight, stamina and fortitude can be a great asset.

Foster carers need moral strength and toughness of spirit, not a flawless past.

Foster care is a career choice that we feel warrants the same sense of status and value as other professional roles.

Essential requirements

Brighton & Hove City Council foster carers need:

a spare bedroom

significant childcare experience, through family, work, or as a volunteer

to live within a 25-mile radius of the city

to enjoy caring for children

time and energy to put a child’s need first

good physical and emotional health

Preferred traits

Great foster carers should be able to demonstrate:

patience and understanding
a strong and positive support network
an ability to ask for help and take advice on board when needed
an ability to listen to and communicate with children to meet their needs
flexibility, adaptability and resilience
an ability to work in partnership with professionals and families
an understanding of racism and discrimination
that they can meet a child’s racial, linguistic, cultural and religious needs
a sense of humour

We asked some of our care experience young people what makes a good foster carer. This is what they said:

Fostering myths

All too often, people disqualify themselves from making big changes in their lives. Sometimes it’s down to fear of change, and sometimes its because of false beliefs or misinformation about why something is not possible. Read more about the most common fostering myths.