From policing to fostering: your skills are needed

15 April 2026

If you’re a police officer thinking about your next step or looking for a new way to make a difference, Remand Fostering could be the natural progression you didn’t know existed.

You’ve spent your career safeguarding communities, supporting vulnerable people, making quick decisions under pressure, and setting clear boundaries. Those same strengths are exactly what young people on the edge of the criminal justice system need most.

What is Remand Fostering?

Remand Fostering provides a safe, structured family home for young people awaiting court outcomes. Instead of spending nights in custody, an unregulated placement or a youth offending institution, they stay with specially trained foster carers who offer stability at a critical moment.

The placement is temporary but often transformative. After court, a young person may return home, move to long-term fostering, or in some cases enter custody. Until then, the foster carer’s role is to keep them safe, supported, and connected to family life.

Why police officers are a great fit

Mark Colwell, a police inspector and experienced foster carer (not in the remand scheme), says the skills built in policing translate powerfully into fostering of all kinds: “Patience, empathy, risk assessment, negotiation, setting clear boundaries – all of those skills from policing transfer directly into fostering. You’ve already got a strong skill base.”

He adds that officers bring valuable insight into vulnerability and social need: “There’s a big cross-over. You’ve already worked with vulnerable people, you understand how people live and function, and you’ve got criminal justice knowledge that’s incredibly helpful.”

These skills are particularly relevant to Remand Fostering, where structure, calm decision-making and fairness are vital. The rewards are real

Although Mark isn’t a Remand Foster Carer, he speaks openly about the wider rewards of fostering: “There are loads of moments that make it worthwhile. Teaching them to ride a bike, days out, seeing improvements in behaviour. Our boys have changed so much - fewer meltdowns, better manners, more pride in themselves.”

Thinking about it?

His advice is simple: “Go through the process. The training is realistic, the assessment is one of the fairest I’ve experienced, and the people are genuinely on your side. If you’re interested, go for it.”

Take the next step

If you’re ready to use your policing skills to help a young person change direction, the Foster Birmingham team is there to support you.

Call: 0121 303 7575

Visit: fosterbirmingham.co.uk

Your experience protects people every day. Remand Fostering lets you change lives in a whole new way.