FOSTERING IS REBUILDING A CHILD'S FUTURE
Fostering is a way of providing a stable family life for children and young people who are unable to live with their parents or other relatives. Which can be for many reasons.
WHY FOSTERING?
Why do some children need a Foster Carer?
- Family breakdowns
- Relationship problems
- Threatened child’s welfare
- Due to Parents’ Illness
CHOICES AND WHO WILL YOU LOOK AFTER?
Children can be placed in foster care from birth to 18 years
Placements can be for short periods, emergency, long term or for a respite period
If a child is part of a sibling group it is common for the children to be placed together
It will be consider whether you have sufficient space for one child or more.
What type of behaviour and experiences can you manage?
Are you able to care for children from different religions or ethnic backgrounds?
Placements can be for short periods, emergency, long term or for a respite period
If a child is part of a sibling group it is common for the children to be placed together
It will be consider whether you have sufficient space for one child or more.
What type of behaviour and experiences can you manage?
Are you able to care for children from different religions or ethnic backgrounds?
SAFETY, SECURITY, CARE...
All children and young people are different from each other, what you can expect is that, as with any child or young person, they need security, stability and the chance to develop and thrive.
DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS
The children and young people placed with foster carers are from a number of different cultural, religious and ethnic backgrounds and will display different behaviours depending upon their various experiences.
KEY FACTS ABOUT FOSTER CARE
Around 62,000 children (source: Fostering Network) are in care in England on any one day with around 75% in foster care.
Ofsted inspect foster care providers who are both Local Authorities and Independent Fostering Agencies (IFA’s).
Foster care is regulated by The National Minimum Standards, and Fostering Regulations 2011.
There is a strong focus on positive outcomes for children and young people in our foster care.
PROVIDING A HOME
Providing a foster care placement in your home, allows a child or young person the chance to thrive in a safe, secure, and caring home environment. Fostering is challenging but also rewarding at the same time. It takes time, patience and commitment to foster.
SHORTAGE OF FOSTER CARER
There is currently an estimated shortage of 9,000 carers in England (Fostering Network). We urgently require carers in London, surrounding areas. Fostering is about being able to respond to a child and help them thrive.
WHAT IS A INDEPENDENT FOSTERING AGENCY
When a child is placed in care, their welfare generally lies with their home Local Authority Social Services. Orginally, Local Authorities have been responsible for providing fostering services through carers they have recruited.
Independent Fostering Agencies (IFA) came into existence to support Local Authorities services and provide greater choice for the child being placed. The majority of IFA’s are companies. When selecting an IFA to foster with, it is important that potential carers consider many areas but in particular the support they receive, allowances payable and whether they will receive a placement of a child.
Independent Fostering Agencies (IFA) came into existence to support Local Authorities services and provide greater choice for the child being placed. The majority of IFA’s are companies. When selecting an IFA to foster with, it is important that potential carers consider many areas but in particular the support they receive, allowances payable and whether they will receive a placement of a child.
FOSTERING AND ADOPTION SAME?
What is the difference between fostering and adoption? The main difference is that with adoption you become a child’s legal parent permanently, whilst fostering is usually temporary, until a child returns to their family.
LENGTH OF PLACEMENTS
Foster care placements can last for days, months or even several years. Many children return to their families but others may receive long term support; either through continued fostering, adoption, residential care or being helped to live independently.
