Fostering is rewarding, yet tough. Full of opportunities and challenges, the difference a foster carer makes to the life of a foster child is immeasurable and priceless.
To be a successful foster carer, you need support. And this needs to take many shapes and forms.
TRAINING & SKILLS
Looking after a child who is vulnerable, scared, defensive, unhappy or grieving takes patience, love, commitment, and determination.
Although you may come to fostering as a successful parent, the additional emotional, social and behavioral difficulties and challenges a foster child can display means you need additional support.
And this can come in the form of training and new skills.
All foster carers as part of the application process will receive comprehensive training in what fostering is all about, how to manage challenging behavior and more.
This, coupled with your experience and the support of your social worker and the child’s social worker can be the launch pad for a fantastic career as a foster carer.
But learning doesn’t stop there. As a foster carer, you can continue your fostering training by completing specialist courses that allow you to offer certain kinds of fostering placement. For example, parent and child fostering is when a foster carer offers advice, support and guidance to a young parent and their baby. Or you may decide to offer remand fostering placements, working with young offenders.
EMOTIONAL
Children are removed from their birth families for all kinds of reasons. Some of these reasons are distressing, with the stories children have to tell having a deep impact on those around them. Children can hold this information to themselves, revealing snippets as they grow to trust you.
It is important that foster carers receive emotional support so that they can process what the child tells them and ‘let go’ of some of the distressing details. But because of the need to protect the child, these details can’t be discussed with just anyone.
There will be times when behavior and other challenges mean you feel isolated, confused and unsure what to do.
The fostering agency should have a comprehensive package of support in place including access to their own 24-hour helpline or one provided by a fostering charity.
There are also other support networks you can rely on too, such as foster support meetings or professional networks where the latest professional and policy updates can be discussed.
You can also talk to your supervising social worker and you will have access to other professionals such as therapists and educational staff.
No one fosters alone. Everyone wants every foster placement to be successful and this is why foster carers, along with their own children and children who they foster, receive a high level of tailored support from their fostering agency.
FINANCIAL
There are financial implications for fostering children and young people and you will receive financial support to do meet these expenses and costs.
As well as a fostering allowance that covers the cost of raising a child, financial fostering support also means not having benefits disrupted, tax incentives and more.
Fostering support means never being alone, no matter what time of night or day it is, or what kind of support you need.
Fostering People is a leading fostering agency, proud of the outstanding support they offer their foster carers every day.