Fostering

Becoming a Foster Carer

In the first instance you can contact the fostering duty worker and you will be sent an initial information pack. Once you have returned the relevant documents, contact will be made by the Fostering Service to arrange an initial visit to your property. If you decide that fostering is for you then you will be invited to a preparation course ‘Skills to Foster’ which is held over 5 days and will cover all aspects of fostering. Following this, you will be assessed by a representative from the fostering service to see if you have the skills and abilities to become a foster carer. This involves talking to you and your family, doing a number of checks and visiting referees who can comment on your qualities as a prospective foster carer.

The assessment period also gives you time to reflect on whether fostering is right for you and your family. At the end of the assessment your social worker completes a report outlining why they feel you should be approved as a foster carer, with a recommendation regarding which age range of foster children would be best for you and your family, including the number of children.

Your report is considered by the Fostering Panel, which meets monthly. The panel consists of a number of people involved in fostering i.e. foster carers and professionals, and will decide whether to recommend that you are approved as a foster carer. You will be invited to attend the panel with your assessing worker.

The agency decision maker, who is a senior manager in Children’s Services who, within 5 days of fostering panel, confirms the recommendation of the panel to approve you as a foster carer.

We aim to complete your assessment as a foster carer from initial enquiry to Fostering Panel in 6 months.

Skills and Qualities

As a foster carer you will need to:

Be able to provide a good standard of care for other people's children. This will involve promoting their health, education and leisure interests.
Be able to listen and communicate with children in a way that is appropriate for their age and understanding.
Be able to help the child keep in contact with their friends and family as appropriate.
Be able to set appropriate boundaries and manage children's behaviour without the use of physical punishment or other unreasonable behaviour.
Ensure that the child is cared for in an environment where they are safe from harm and abuse.
Work as part of a team with the child's social worker, teacher and other professionals.
Provide a stable home that can give the child warmth and stability they need.
Have a positive attitude to diversity and equality issues.