Introduction to foster care
Across the UK there is an urgent need for thousands more foster carers working in social care. This shortage means that social services have fewer choices of foster carers therefore children are too often being moved around from home to home, have to be split up from their brothers and sisters, and have to live a long way from their family and friends.
The more people approved as a foster carer, especially by Independent Fostering Agencies, the more likely a good match can be found for a foster child in terms of location, culture, lifestyle, language and interests. More foster parents means reducing the harm that instability causes to the most vulnerable children in our society.
Social services need foster carers for children for many different reasons, maybe because of a crisis in the child's family, abuse, alcohol or drug addictions or parents who are unable to cope.
As a foster carer for children, you will be able to decide the types of children best suited to you and your family. Brothers and sisters who need to stay together, children with special needs, teenagers, asylum seeking youngsters and mothers and babies all need foster homes.
- Foster care for children is a social care service where you will care for other people's children in your home;
- Fostering children can be challenging and stressful but it is often fun, can be enormously rewarding and you will get lots of help;
- Foster care is looking after children placed by social services for short periods, months, years and sometimes permanently.
- Foster care is looking after children of all ages and from many different backgrounds
- Fostering and adoption services are provided by both social services and Independent Agencies
Fostering is a partnership which focuses on the needs of the child. Foster carers, parents, social workers, fostering agencies and social services all work together. Register for more information or to apply to become a foster carer or if you are interested in adoption.
Why do people foster?
People become foster carers because they are committed to giving children a safe and secure home. Stella, a foster carer told us "fostering has given me the opportunity to give youngsters a chance at family life. My kids had left home, I had the space and because I had thought about fostering for a while I took the plunge. I look after teenagers now who I help to move on to independance. It's hard sometimes but I love it!"
More information...Fostering as a career
Fostering can be a career. Some Fostering Agencies are prepared to pay retainers between placements to experienced foster carers and there is a growing need for foster carers who are prepared to foster children and young people on a long term fostering basis, as well as permanently.
More information...Who can be a foster carer?
Foster carers come from all walks of life, different backgrounds, experiences, lifestyles, ages and occupations. To be a foster carer you will need to be flexible, understanding and want to learn new skills. A good sense of humour helps.
More information...
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