Good Parenting

At any one time there are approximately 80,000 children in care in the UK.

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It is generally accepted that there is a shortfall of 5000 new foster carers every year which compounds the growing problem of foster children being separated from their brothers and sisters, having to live a long way from their family and friends and being denied placement stability which impacts on their education, self esteem and as a consequence causes further disruption in childrenÂ’s lives.

The more people approved as foster carers, the more likely it is that a good match can be found for a child in terms of location, culture, lifestyle, language and interests. More foster carerÂ’s means reducing the damage that instability causes to the most vulnerable children in our society.

A recently published research document produced by Professor Bob Broad of London South Bank University analyses the views and experiences of children and foster carers as part of a ten year longitudinal study.

Professor Broad says: ‘It is especially important that children in foster care feel valued within a safe, stable, loving family situation. Their health and well-being are connected to their participation in family life, and decisions about their foster placement’.

This research study evidences the high value children in foster care place on their current foster carer whilst also wanting further contact with their birth family. The study points to the positive yet often difficult journeys they make as they seek to sustain friendships, achieve a good education, and in some cases, improve their mental health and behaviour.

Simply Fostering is a response to the shortfall of foster carers. It is a unique, not for profit web based service designed by fostering social workers to encourage interested people to apply to become foster carers who might feel confused and/or uncertain about their suitability or which Agency to contact.
Single parents are some of the best foster carers around in our experience.

Some single parents are in the position of not being able to go out to work full time because of their own child or children being at school, so they can commit themselves fully to the fostering role. Single parent families are a valued resource for fostering agencies, as some children are only to be placed with only male or female foster carers.

Whilst almost anyone can apply to be a foster carer, people need to have or to be able to demonstrate potential parenting skills which are adaptable to the fostering role. Foster carers are optimistic, good listeners, flexible and with a good sense of humour, which also helps.

A significant number of children who need foster carers are teenagers, both girls and boys.

Most of these children will have had difficulties at home. They come from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds, including unaccompanied minors, who will need support and help in adjusting to living in a new country. All Fostering Agencies are seeking to recruit foster carers for older children.

There are no particular people who make successful foster carers for teenagers. They include single people, couples, black carers and gay and lesbian carers. Before fostering they have usually had experience of caring for teenagers, either through raising their own family, or through having contact in other ways, for example through their work. As foster carers for teenage children, they also share a genuine enjoyment in working with teenagers and a commitment to promoting their welfare.

There are foster carer placements required where children and young people can feel safe and begin to build a new life for themselves. Fostering Agencies are looking for foster carers who can provide a stable foster home and lots of support and encouragement to help these children feel safe and secure. Youngsters do well when they are placed with a foster carer of the same language, religion and culture.

In our experience one of the most difficult issues for people has been discussing finance. Looking after children and receiving a fee is a difficult concept at first and many foster carers have told Simply Fostering that they found it embarrassing to talk about payments.

Times have changed and fostering is no longer seen as a voluntary service. In order to recruit and retain foster carers it is now accepted that foster carers need to be financially rewarded as are any other workers in social care. Local Authorities and Independent Fostering Agencies provide fees and allowances to enable foster carers to care for children and young people on a full-time basis.

Fostering can work really well for single parents who have to stay at home to care for children, as they can earn up to £500 per week per child tax free, dependant on which private agency you work for.

Many people are choosing fostering as a career choice and committing to fostering on a full time basis. Generally, the more available you are the more placements you will be offered.

Anyone interested in fostering and becoming a foster carer should go to Simply Fostering where all information, practical support and choice is just a registration form away. The Simply Fostering Team.

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This entry was posted on Monday, March 15th, 2010 at 2:03 pm and is filed under Good Parenting.