There’s much more to fostering than having a child to stay overnight or domestic tasks like preparing meals and washing clothes.

Being able to work well with the Foster Care Team and other professionals is an essential part of the role. Every foster carer has their own supervising social worker, who is part of the Foster Care Team and every looked after child has their own social worker from another team. There will be regular meetings with these social workers as well as others, such as teachers and doctors or other health care professionals. Depending on the circumstances, you are also likely to have frequent meetings with the child’s birth parents and other family members and friends to support the child’s contact with them.

You’ll be expected to feed and clothe a child, help them understand the need for making healthy eating choices and taking exercise as well as giving guidance on personal presentation and looking after themselves.

Encouraging a child with their school and homework is a key fostering task. You may be expected to attend meetings at the school including parents’ evenings.

It’s also important that a looked after child has access to sports and activities and you may find yourself researching where they can take part in a favourite hobby or providing lifts to the sports centre after school.

One of the most important roles for any foster carer is to be a good listener and to have the time to sit down with a child when they want to talk.