Thinking of Fostering?

There are approximately 60,000 children and young people who are ‘in care’ of local authorities at any one time. The total number of children and young people who are ‘Looked After’ by the state in any year rises to approximately 300,000, and the numbers seem to be increasing each year.

Statistics suggest that around two thirds of children and young people who are ‘in care’ are placed in foster homes, with the majority of the other third living with families and friends or in residential provision.

There is a national shortage of Foster Carers. 10,000 more are required to ensure that children and young people who need time away from their own parents have an opportunity to benefit from living within a stable, safe and nurturing family environment. You don’t need to have any particular academic or vocational qualifications, but having experience of caring for or working with children or young people really helps.

There is no question that providing fostering to children and young people who cannot live with their own families is a very special job. Making a positive difference in the life of a child or young person is wonderful and very rewarding. However, it can also be very challenging and demanding.

People who foster are expected to treat the children or young people placed with them as one of their own family. However, the expectation is not to be foster parents but Foster Carers. This change of emphasis reflects the fact that the majority of children and young people have parents and do not want other adults to replace their own mother and father.

Foster carers are expected to work in partnership with a range of people who are involved in the child or young person’s life, including the birth parents, extended family members, social workers, health workers, staff within education and a range of other professionals. Foster Carers should be seen as key members of the professional team that works with the child or young person.

Fostering is a big commitment. It will have an impact on you and your whole family. Therefore, it is really important to find out as much as you can, so that you can make the right choice at the right time for the right reason.

Some key requirements of becoming a Foster Carer are:

You need to like children and young people
You need to have at least one spare room
You need to have lots of patience
You need to be able to be very flexible in terms of time availability
You need to enjoy working as a team member
You need to be willing to learn
You need to have family and friends who will support you