The main qualities that make an effective foster carer are a genuine interest in children and young people and a focus on the child’s best interests. Other strong attributes include:
- empathy and good listening skills
- perseverance when things get tough
- flexibility and adaptability
- patience and humour
- stability and consistency in your personal and family life
- an ability to guide and discipline children without the use of physical punishment
- being able to look after yourself emotionally and staying well
- a willingness to work with other people in the child’s life such as birth parents and caseworkers
- a willingness to support the child to develop a sense of identity that includes their culture, language and religion, where appropriate.