Are you a kind, caring person who would like to make a positive impact on a child or young person’s life? If so you may have considered being a foster carer or a homestay (host family). The roles are similar in some ways as both involve providing care and a safe environment in exchange for payment. What differentiates the two roles are the responsibilities and the level of commitment involved. Read on to find out more!

If you are thinking about becoming a foster carer, you might find being a homestay a good taster. Being a homestay is much less of a commitment than being a foster carer and allows you a greater degree of flexibility as students usually only require homestay during one week half term holidays and occasional weekends because they live in boarding schools during term time. It can be a way to dip your toe in the pond and find out what being a carer might be like, without fully committing to a more permanent arrangement.

What is a foster carer? What responsibilities do foster carers have?

Foster carers are employed by local councils to look after children under the Children Act 1989.

It shall be the general duty of every local authority (in addition to the other duties imposed on them by this Part) to safeguard and promote the welfare of children within their area who are in need.

Children are deemed ‘in need’ and taken into foster care for various reasons. The Children Act 1989 states:

A child shall be taken to be in need if—

 (a)he is unlikely to achieve or maintain, or to have the opportunity of achieving or maintaining, a reasonable standard of health or development without the provision for him of services by a local authority under this Part;

(b)his health or development is likely to be significantly impaired, or further impaired, without the provision for him of such services; or

(c)he is disabled,

Due to the reasons behind the child being deemed ‘in need’, the children that foster carers look after are often vulnerable, neglected children and young people who have had traumatic childhoods.

Foster carers are not the legal parent of the child (the child’s parents or the local authority still have legal responsibility) however the foster carer cares for the child 24/7 and is responsible for the child’s physical and emotional well-being. Because of the circumstances which have resulted in the child being in foster care, ensuring the child’s emotional wellbeing can be challenging and often involves working closely with social workers, parents and other professionals who are involved in that child’s life. Foster families are required to support foster children through any personal difficulties and hardships. This can include misbehaviour and disregards for social norms and boundaries.

What is a homestay? What responsibilities do homestay have?

Homestays host international students whilst they are holidaying or studying in a different country. Being a homestay is a rewarding experience which involves taking care of a student whilst they are in the UK and providing them with their basic needs including a bed, food, and a quiet place to do their homework. Find out more about being a homestay and what responsibilities homestay have here.

The students Study Links places with homestay families are international students who have come to study in the UK because they want to learn and improve their English. They are happy to have the opportunity to stay with a homestay family and to practice and improve their English. They are usually very well behaved and polite – the only thing you might have to teach them about are British customs and manners!

On occasion, there may be a student who is struggling or having some personal difficulties. Homestays do not hold parental responsibility. Study Links is the student’s guardian and will support and advise the homestay as necessary. Study Links are ultimately responsible for the child’s physical and emotional well-being whilst the child is in the UK and should it become necessary to act in loco parentis, Study Links would act on behalf of the parents. All we ask of homestay is that they notify Study Links if they have any concerns over the child’s safety and wellbeing and we would work together with the homestay to care for the child. We have a strict Child Protection and Whistle Blowing policy, both of which are available if required.

If you would like to apply to be a homestay, click here. If you would like to know more, please contact us.