What is Fostering?
Our future lies in the hands of today's children – giving each of us the responsibility to help them reach their full potential…especially those who require a little extra nurturing
Fostering is looking after someone else's children in your own home at a time when his or her family is unable to do so
This can be due to many reasons: illness, relationship problems, family breakdown, or perhaps a situation where the child's welfare is threatened
Foster carers provide a safe, secure and stable environment for these children and young people. They work with them, their family and the authorities to help most children return home as quickly as possible
Fostering differs from adoption. An adoption order ends a child's legal relationship with their natural family, while foster carers work towards ultimately reuniting child and family
This may include having family visits or providing parents with information about their child. And, wherever possible, brothers and sisters are looked after in the same foster home
Foster care can last for days, months or even years. Most children return home to their families but others may receive long-term support; either through continued fostering, adoption, residential care or by being helped to live independently
Return to 'How About A Satisfying Career as a Foster Carer?'
Who are the children needing foster care?
Every child is unique. There are no two children in foster care who look the same, feel the same, behave in the same way, or have the same talents and abilities. One of the joys of fostering is that every child presents a new challenge, even for the most experienced carers, and every child has the capacity to grow and to change and to reach their potential, and the rewards for carers of seeing children and young people progress whilst in their care are immense. The challenges are immense too and the impact on family life is not to be underestimated. However carers with Focused Fostering are well supported by a team of staff who will all work together with you to help you to face the challenge.
To give you an idea of some of the children and young people we foster here are a few case examples (not real people) to get you thinking. All of them have different needs, and therefore will require different approaches and responses. Carers need to be able to understand the impact of children's life experiences on their development in order to know how best to help, and this understanding will come through a range of sources, backed up by carer training and support.
The local authority will provide information initially, based on what they know of the child and their background. Parents and others who know the child may give you more detail. The child's behaviour will tell you a lot and what the child says will also contribute to your understanding .
Return to 'How About A Satisfying Career as a Foster Carer?'
Click for full details of how you, too, can become a Foster Carer
Focused Fostering
focused Fostering
Burnhill Business Center
47-49 Provident House
Burrell Row
Beckenham
Kent BR3 1AT
Telephone:
020 8670 0400
Learn how the fostering application
process is easy to understand and accessible for you
Approval Process
We get to know each other well during the process of becoming a foster carer. You will find out all about being part of our fostering team over the 3 or 4 months leading up to approvall
