Five traits that make a great foster carer
Foster carers have the chance to change the lives of children and young people in need. Although this opportunity can be extremely rewarding, it is not without its challenges. If you’re considering fostering, you might be wondering if you have the qualities needed to deal with these obstacles.
It goes without saying, foster carers should feel committed to helping children. If you have a strong desire to help vulnerable young people in your area, it’s likely you already have many of the attributes of a good foster carer. There are specific character traits though, that can make a person particularly well-suited to the role. Understanding these key traits can help you determine if you could be right for the rewarding journey of fostering.
Read more about the qualities that make a great foster carer.
1. Patience
Patience is perhaps the most crucial trait for any foster carer. Many children in foster care have experienced trauma and instability in their lives, and they may display challenging behaviours as a result of such past experiences. A foster carer needs to have the patience to understand these behaviours and provide a calm, stable environment, where the child can feel safe. This patience should extend to an openness to learning.
2. Empathy
Empathy involves the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. For foster carers, this means recognising the complex emotions children in foster care can experience and providing emotional support. Empathy helps foster carers connect with children on a deeper level and build a trusting relationship.
3. Flexibility
Every child is unique, and their needs can vary greatly. Flexibility is an important trait that enables foster carers to adapt to different situations, from adjusting routines and dealing with unexpected challenges to managing different emotional responses. Flexibility ensures foster carers can handle the unpredictability that can come with fostering.
4. Resilience
Resilience is the ability to recover quickly from difficulties. Foster carers need to be resilient to cope with the emotional highs and lows of fostering. Resilience allows foster carers to bounce back from setbacks and continue providing a stable, supportive home for the child. It also helps them maintain their well-being, which is essential for the long-term success of the fostering experience.
5. Communication Skills
Effective communication is vital when fostering. This includes not only talking and listening to young people but also interacting with social workers and other professionals. Good communication skills help foster carers to advocate for the child’s needs and ensure that everyone is working together in the child’s best interest.
Fostering is a demanding yet incredibly rewarding journey, but if you possess characteristics like patience, empathy, flexibility, resilience, and strong communication skills, you might be exactly what we look out for in a foster carer.
At Unity Foster Care, we are dedicated to supporting foster carers in Leeds, Yorkshire, and surrounding areas in the North East. If you are interested in making a difference in a child or young person’s life, get in touch today to learn more about fostering and how you can start your journey towards becoming a great foster carer. You’ll need to be over age 25, have an available spare bedroom, and have UK citizenship.
Start a conversation by calling us on 0333 772 2333. Alternatively, book an initial chat with our friendly advisor Gemma, who is here to answer any questions and guide you through the fostering process.