What makes a good foster carer?
Empathy, patience and advocacy: the pillars of successful foster caring
There are numerous characteristics of a good foster carer. They include empathy, patience and advocacy. In this article we explore:
- what these characteristics mean in the context of foster care;
- how to get everyone in your household onboard; and
- how these characteristics/skills can help you build a greater connection with your foster child(ren), giving them a positive care experience.
Pillar one: empathy
Empathy is an important social skill, and it’s highly regarded in the foster care recruitment process. To be empathetic, you can put yourself in another person's shoes. Empathetic carers understand the views and actions of foster children and their birth families.
When bringing foster children into your family, it’s important for everyone to get involved to make the experience a positive one. If you have children, you can help them develop empathy, starting with leading by example, talking to them about their feelings and emotions, and acknowledging them.
By showing empathy towards your foster child, you can help build a greater emotional connection with them and this can help them with regulating their own emotions. You may then notice that they might start displaying positive behaviors, building trust in you and improving communication.
Pillar two: patience
The second pillar of what makes a good foster carer is being patient. This means working at a pace that the child is comfortable with. Sometimes things won’t go according to time or plan, and that’s okay.
Reinforcing the importance of patience with your family will help reduce any stress or disappointment. When talking to your family about being patient and understanding of the young person coming into your home, it’s important to remind them that they may be used to a different routine, or sometimes no routine at all. It can take some time for the foster child to adjust to your routine and household, and you can play a big role in being supportive of that.
By being a patient carer, it gives the child time to build trust in you and adjust to their new environment. This can then strengthen other areas of your relationship with them.
Pillar three: advocacy
You need to be an advocate for the young people in your care. Advocating means standing up for (or with) them and their wellbeing, ensuring that their voices are heard by you and others, and supporting them with their needs and decisions. What makes a good foster carer is being able to meet the needs and best interests of the child(ren) in your care.
As a family, it’s important that everyone understands their role in supporting the foster child. Reinforce the importance of taking the time to listen to and understand the needs of the young person and be supportive of them.
Again, by being an advocate for your foster child, you can help build a stronger connection with them and increase their trust and comfortability to talk to you about what they’re experiencing.
Find out more about what makes a good foster carer
To learn more about what you need to be a good carer, feel free to read our other blog articles where we share tips and tricks, information on the fostering process and lots more.
Alternatively, if you feel ready to chat to our team about taking the next step to become a carer, click here to fill out an expression of interest. We look forward to assisting you on your journey.
