Working and Driving: Can I Still Foster?

Driving & Fostering

Many people get frustrated by the fact that being unable to drive can prevent them from fostering.

It is important to remember that providing transport for a child to access education, contact with their birth families and training sessions for the foster carer is essential to the fostering role. Not being able to drive would make attending these various committments very difficult, especially in areas with poor transport links.

What’s wrong with using public transport?
Often, children are placed outside of their local area for their own safety, so using public transport would be both unpractical and unsafe for these children.

Working & Fostering

Working is another topic that comes up regularly with fostering enquiries, with many people wondering whether they can continue to work and foster.

It is important to remember that fostering needs to be a priority since it should be regarded a 24/7 vocation. Our policy is that carers are expected to be at home when their Looked After Child is at home – this could mean that the Foster Carer works during school hours, although provision needs to be made for school holidays and sick days.

With carers who work part-time, we would look to make sure that they have a sufficient degree of flexibility with their working hours.

Here at Kindercare NI, we have a fostering allowance which is partly there to help in situations where applicants are looking to reduce their working hours, or maybe to give up work completely.