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Social Services and Health

Social Services - Children and Families

Fostering

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About fostering
Why fostering?
What is fostering?
Who is suitable to become a foster carer?
How do I become a foster carer?

About fostering

When children cannot live within their birth families, for whatever reason, the fostering is usually the considered as the first option for substitute care. The Council recruits and supports a range of foster families to care for these children and to meet their many and varied needs.

The foster family will be asked to work in partnership with other professionals and families, to undertake specific tasks as part of an agreed care plan for the child and family. Foster carers look after the children placed with them for varying periods of time, ranging from days to, in some instances, years.

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Why fostering?

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What is fostering?

Fostering is welcoming a child, going through a difficult stage in their life, into your home. All children in care have very different needs and the type of support we offer them varies considerably.

Some of our carers provide emergency placements that require overnight stays and others look after children requiring respite care for a limited period. Some foster on a long-term basis and help prepare a child for adoption. You might feel that your own experiences would enable you to work with toddlers or with children who have challenging behaviour. At all times we will listen to you about the type of care you feel able to offer.

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Who is suitable to become a foster carer?

Most people are suitable to foster and we recognise that families come in all shapes and sizes. The most important criteria is that you and your family are caring people who can help the children we have in foster care. You could be single or a couple, working either in or out of the home and you may or may not have your own children. Variety is good; it helps us meet the needs of the very different children we want to place in caring homes.

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How do I become a foster carer?

The process of becoming a foster carer takes about nine months from your enquiry. At all times you’ll be supported by the Family Placement Team and your own social worker. Here’s what will happen….

  1. Fill in the enquiry form and send it back to us. We’ll then send you an information pack and application form. Send the application form back to us.
  2. A Family Placement Team worker will contact you to discuss fostering. It’s likely this discussion will take place in your home.
  3. You’ll be asked to fill in a more detailed form giving us permission to carry out police and other checks.
  4. Whilst the checks are being completed, you’ll be invited to our training sessions where you’ll be able to meet existing carers and learn more about fostering.
  5. Once you’ve completed training your social worker will work with you to produce a report on your suitability to foster.
  6. At the same time as writing this report the council will follow up your personal and professional references and you will undertake a health check.
  7. Your report and references will be presented to the Fostering Panel. You will be invited to this this panel. They will decide on your suitability to foster. If you are approved you’ll be given the name of the social worker who will support you and look for a suitable child for you. If you’re not approved you will be given reasons in writing.
  8. After approval, a child or young person will be placed with you. Their age and length of stay will depend on the type of fostering you’ve been approved for.
  9. You will be reviewed every 12 months of it there is significant change in your circumstances i.e., if you move home.
  10. You will be required to undertake ongoing training as appropriate.

Please click here for an enquiry form.[PDF : 89k]

Please click here for a fostering information booklet.[PDF : 420k]

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