Fostering supports
We understand that good support is absolutely vital to ensure that you feel confident and capable in your role. It is our job to do everything we can to help you.
We value the work foster carers do and the contributions they make to young people’s lives. We provide foster carers with a solid support system to enable them to provide a good standard of care for the children they look after.
There are two weekly rates of Foster Care Allowance:
- For children aged 0 – 12yrs €350.00
- For children aged 12yrs + €377.00
This allowance does not affect tax or state benefits. Tusla has a policy on the appropriate use of the fostering allowance.
In addition to the foster care allowance other supports includes:
- Regular home visits and telephone contact from your assigned fostering link worker;
- Each child in your care has a social worker who visits the child and maintains a link with the child’s birth family;
- You will be able to apply for child benefit for each child in your care;
- Support from your public health nurse if you are caring for a pre-school child;
- A comprehensive training programme pre and post approval;
- A year’s free membership to the Irish Foster Care Association; and
- Each child in foster care will have their own medical card.
Following extensive consultation Tusla has introduced a Standardised National Aftercare Allowance for young people who have been in care for 12 months prior to their 18th birthday and attending education/ accredited training. This weekly standardised allowance of €300 per week ensures equality for all care leavers engaged in training and education.
Click here to view the Guidance Document for the Implementation of the Standardised Aftercare Allowance.
Training and development
Training and development We recognise that the needs of children in care will change over time. With this in mind, we actively support and promote the continuous professional development of our staff and foster carers.
Training and development is compulsory for all foster carers and all applicants will be asked to complete a fostering induction course prior to approval as a foster carer. Throughout your time as a foster carer various workshops and education opportunities will be offered to you and we hope you will find these courses both interesting and enjoyable.
Emergency Fostering Support Service
Tusla Foster Carers can now access a Tusla Social Worker outside of normal working hours. This phone-based support service will assist foster carers in the event that an emergency situation arises regarding a child in your care. Full details are available here.
Get in touch, the first step in becoming a foster carer is to contact us. You can contact us by phone or e-mail | |
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freephone 1800 226 771 | |
tusla.fostering@tusla.ie |