What makes a good foster carer?

Foster carers can be single, living with a partner or married. Local Authorities are required by the Children’s Act in Scotland to recruit carers who reflect the local community so foster carers can come from all ethnic, religious, linguistic and cultural backgrounds. They may have their own children, have step or adopted children or not have any children at all. We welcome carers from a variety of different backgrounds to meet the wide-ranging needs of the children and young people who are looked after.

However, there are some qualities that are important for all foster carers to have. For example, you do definitely need to like children and young people! You will already have some of the qualities and experience that effective foster carers need and we will offer training to develop others.

What foster carers and young people say about fostering

"They made me feel as if I was important and they really cared about me."
"I used to get upset when my mum and sister went home. They didn’t mind if I didn’t talk or eat for a while and kept my tea for me until I wanted it."
"You need a sense of humour, patience and tolerance, and to be able to communicate with children, their families and social workers."
"I think it helps that I’ve seen it all, done it all, myself. I don’t judge parents and I can understand how children feel and why they are behaving the way they are."
"Having brought up my own teenagers, I wasn’t phased by much. I think I would have found it much harder when I was younger and less experienced."

More information

If you would like more information about fostering, please contact the Social Work Family Placement Team at:

Children's Services
11 Market Street
Galashiels TD1 3AD
(01896 757230

Back to Foster Care main page ...