What is Fostering
There are times when children cannot live at home with their family. This can be for a variety of reasons but most children coming into foster care will have experienced some level of trauma. They may have experienced neglect, physical and sexual abuse. All children coming into foster care will be feeling a sense of loss at having to leave their family.
Fostering means providing children and young people with a stable, nurturing, and caring home. Caring for a fostered child is extremely rewarding but it is also challenging and at times hard work.
Children coming into foster care may find it difficult to express their feelings, they may not find it easy to trust adults. They may be withdrawn, angry or sad. They may act younger than their chronological age and may have missed or have delayed developmental milestones.
Nationally there is a huge shortage of approved foster carers, and we know that taking that first step can be daunting, but we are here to offer reassurance, guidance and support every step of the way.
There are different types of fostering and at First for Fostering we will help you to navigate what will fit best for you and your family.
What is fostering
Short-term placement
Foster carers can foster children on a short-term basis, as an emergency for a night or for many months. Foster carers are likely to be involved in moving children on to either long-term placements, adoption or back to their birth family.
Long-term placement
A long-term fostering placement offers children and young people a permanent home until adulthood. Children are carefully matched with foster carers who are able to offer them the long-term care required.
Respite placement
Some foster carers care for a child for a short period of time, perhaps while the child’s foster carers take a break. Respite placements can also be supporting a child within their birth family, providing respite provision on a regular or one-off basis for parents or wider family where the social worker assesses this is beneficial.
Sibling placement
There is a real need for foster carers who can care for sibling groups, meaning children can remain with their brothers and sisters in a stable secure environment. Caring for a sibling group can be extremely rewarding.
Parent & Child
Parent and child fostering is where the parent can be supported alongside their child within a foster family, to learn the skills to care for the child. This usually involves placing a baby or child, along with a parent in a foster home where they can learn to cope with parenthood in a safe and secure environment. In many cases the parent has become a parent at a very young age and for one reason or another, cannot remain in their own homes.
Emergency Care
Emergency foster carers will need to be prepared to take a child into their home at any time of the night or day and have them stay for a few days. This type of fostering is unplanned and used at short notice, for example, if a lone parent is taken into hospital and there is no one to care for their child. Longer-term plans must then be considered.
Next Steps
At First for Fostering we are happy to answer all of your questions about Fostering, openly and honestly. We appreciate it is a very big decision and suggest that the first step is a conversation with one of our experienced team.
For a friendly and informal initial chat about fostering, why not give us a call on 01325 978040, 'EMAIL' us, reach out to us on our social media sites below or alternatively use our website contact page 'HERE'.
We are happy to provide you with more information and answer all of your questions.
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Are 'YOU' thinking about fostering?
Come and speak to one of the team and learn the benefits of joining First for Fostering!
Already fostering?
If you are currently fostering and not satisfied with the support you are receiving, you can consider transferring to First for Fostering!