Opinion: Soapbox - Why we must see fostering as a paid job

However, the British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF) isconcerned that there is still a conflict at the core of public andprofessional perceptions of foster care. The difference betweenallowances (covering the cost of looking after children) and fees is notoften addressed, and nor are the funding implications that would result.Yet the Cost of Foster Care report published last year by BAAF and theFostering Network estimated that 748m in new investment wasneeded across the UK if almost all foster carers are to be paid fortheir work as well as receiving proper allowances and support.

I continue to be amazed by how many people still feel uncomfortableabout carers "making money out of caring". And I could barely believe itwhen I learned from a carer who had given up her well-paid nursing jobto foster babies recovering from their mothers' pre-natal drug abusethat, in between placements, she was expected to claim incomesupport.