Foster care - "a job that somebody else will do"?

1 Jun 2010

Someone else’s job: a survey about fostering reveals that most people just don’t think they could do it.

Fostering is vital to society, but not something most people believe they could do.

This comes from a new survey, reported by Children and Young People Now magazine, in which almost 100 per cent of those taking part said they thought fostering was essential to society, but only 20 per cent said they would consider becoming a foster carer.

The survey was conducted by Modus, a company that provides fostering services in the North West.

The company’s founder Sue Hamilton said: "While nobody is denying that fostering can be the most challenging job in the world, with the right training, support and providing you can care for a child in need, there is nothing stopping anyone being a good foster parent.”

The survey also showed that two-thirds of people believe fostering is very rewarding, but most said they lacked the time, money or skills to cope with potentially difficult children.

There is currently a shortage of around 10,000 foster carers in the UK.

Ms Hamilton added: “While we all think that fostering is hugely important, we all think that it's a job that somebody else will do.

"Fewer and fewer people are coming forward to become foster parents — leaving a huge gap in the care we, as a society, can provide to our children and young people."

Source: www.cypnow.co.uk