Support for foster carers

Foster care isn’t the same everywhere. We wouldn’t expect anyone to foster without the right support, so at FCA Scotland, we provide the very best support for foster carers.

Engaging you in shaping the future

We see fostering as a partnership, and we’re committed to making it work for everyone. We deliver training and support across our fostering network. We listen to children, and we respond to our carers. We all work together to provide an inclusive and supportive culture where everyone can achieve their potential.

The carer support package we offer values the work of our foster carers and the positive contribution they make to the lives of children and young people. We recognise that appropriate support for the families who foster is vitally important to ensure a successful placement. We really do care about our foster carers and their families. All of our foster carers have access to the following:

24/7 professional expertise – on hand locally

We have in-depth resources in each of our offices in Scotland. As a first point of contact, you’ll have a dedicated and qualified supervising social worker who’ll meet you regularly to monitor progress, answer any queries and help you develop. (We have one of the UK’s best social worker to foster carer ratios, and that means more time to dedicate to you). We also have an extensive team of professionals to provide specialist input when it’s needed. These include therapists and education officers to help make sure children get the support they deserve. Added to our out of hours helpline and our online portal ‘The Exchange’, we’re able to offer you high levels of support around the clock.

The excellence of our work has been recognised in a recent review by the Care Inspectorate, which ranked our care and support as ‘5’ (Very Good).

Team Parenting®

At the heart of our commitment to involving and supporting people our Team Parenting model is all about helping foster children understand their experiences and form positive, attached relationships with their foster carers. We make sure our foster carers are fully trained to work therapeutically. They do most of the work directly with the child, but that doesn’t mean they do it alone. This team can include therapists, educational leads, social workers and sometimes even the child’s birth parents. They’ll all get involved when they’re needed, which is why we call this Team Parenting™ and you can learn more about it here. It’s effective and helps foster parents and children feel truly supported.

Carer Buddies

Carer Buddies are a new addition to our team in Scotland. They’re existing foster carers with additional mentoring responsibilities on top of their own caring roles, and they’re there to support everyone. If you’re undergoing the assessment process, they’ll be available to provide support and answer any questions. If you’re newly approved, they’ll help you find your feet and provide any help or guidance you need. And if you’re an experienced foster carer… well, even you will benefit from someone to talk to and share your challenges or frustrations. We have a number of Carer Buddies across Scotland, all ready and waiting to support you in whatever way you need.

Informal support, including events and activities

There’s plenty of other more informal support for you in Scotland, including specialist support groups where like-minded foster carers meet up to chat and share advice and experiences of their foster families. We’ve also recently launched a confidential email address for foster carers and staff to ‘chat’ directly with senior management. Last but not least, we have a full calendar of social activities all year round. Ranging from lunches and coffee mornings through to charity fun days and trips to theme parks and events, there’s always something going on locally, and someone to talk to!

One highlight of the year is our Foster Carer Appreciation Day which recognises and celebrates the great work our foster carers do.

Online support

We’ve created an online portal to give all of our foster carers access to news and information. Called ‘The Exchange’, it’s easy to use and jam-packed with all the support you need including details of what’s on locally as well as access to the foster care handbook and CHARMS, our administrative system which gives you a record of all your foster child’s activities and experiences.

Free membership of FosterTalk

FosterTalk is an independent organisation that represents all foster professionals, everywhere. Among a range of services they offer insurance, counselling, helplines and confidential advice through its Fosterline service. All of this adds up to one of the strongest support packages for foster carers in the UK.

Rewards and incentives

Foster carers are doing a professional job, and we believe they should be rewarded accordingly. This includes a number of allowances for holidays, birthdays and special events (among others), as well as a fee for every week a child is in your care. The exact amount depends on where you’re based, the child you’re fostering and even your experience, but it’s a highly competitive package. Other benefits include respite, giving you the time to take a break should you choose.

Finance calculator More about fostering allowances