Supporting care leavers in their career journeys

It can be difficult for a young person to navigate the ever-developing job market – especially for one who has grown up in the care system.

Often, they can be faced with uncertainty of what their lives will be like after they leave foster care. Here at Beacon Fostering, we seek to offer reassurance to foster families and their charges when the time comes. Read on to learn more.

Being a supportive foster carer

Start by discussing with your foster child about what they want to do when they’re older. If they’re undecided, discuss what they’re good at, and what their interests are. This is useful in figuring out and taking the next steps in education and training, and you can also research opportunities in your local area.

School services

Many schools have a careers advisor who your child can discuss their career plans with. They provide useful websites that have quizzes and articles to help their users make informed decisions about their future careers, based on strengths, personality and working style.

Additionally, schools hold careers fairs, where companies, universities and organisations have stalls. People representing them offer one-to-one talks with students, who can opt into their mailing list or pick up a leaflet for more information about vacancies, courses of study and training.

Charities and organisations that can help

If you or your foster child need more assistance, organisations such as The Prince’s Trust, The Diana Award and One Million Mentors provide support, mentorship and training opportunities to young people, many of whom come from marginalised, underprivileged backgrounds.

At Beacon Fostering, we support families through every step of their journey. For more information, get in touch with our team today.