“As a short term carer that means I sometimes get children at very short notice. I’m coping with a forever changing household.”
Fostering is ordinary people doing something special for children and young people. It can be very challenging but equally very rewarding.
Why do children need carers?
Family problems sometimes make it impossible for children to continue living with their parents or other close relatives. When this happens, Children's Social Care may have to look after the children and arrange for children to live with a foster carer. This is usually a temporary arrangement, although some children may need a foster placement for the rest of their childhood.
Could you become a foster carer?
There are many children and young people in the Bradford District that need the sort of help that you may be able to give. The children that need your help are not ordinary children. In their short lives they may have faced many great problems and trauma. They may have been neglected or abused; they may have received little love or affection. As a result, you will need to be prepared for and able to cope with the distress and difficult behaviour.
You will need to be patient and give love, affection and understanding to help a distressed and troubled child settle down, but in time, you should have the reward of watching them grow and develop into happy, confident young people. Wherever possible, we work to get children back home with their families. As a foster carer you will play an important part in keeping children in touch with their families - by phone, letter and meeting with them. Often parents will need your encouragement and support to help them rebuild their relationship with their children.
As a foster carer, you will not be left to face the challenge alone. You will receive lots of help and support from social workers, you will have the chance to meet other foster families and we will provide you with all the necessary training.
Fostering is not a job but a vocation which requires 24/7 commitment and care. Although, you will receive a payment for your skills and an allowance for the children place with you. You will be expected to attend training to increase your skills. There is also opportunity to work towards obtaining an NVQ qualification.
Fostering are you suitable?
See Fostering Policy
Emotional questions
- Are you prepared for a big change in your life?
- What personal qualities do you have?
- Have you thought how fostering will affect your whole family?
- If you’re in a relationship, are you both equally committed to fostering?
- Is this the right time in your life to take on fostering as a commitment?
- Fostering demands flexibility, patience, resourcefulness and a sense of humour!
Practical questions
- Could you change you household routine to suit the needs of a foster child?
- Have you enough space, particularly bedroom space?
- Do you have children of your own? If so, would they be happy to share their space, friends, family etc?
- If you work you may have to give up or change your hours as you will need to be able to manage possible illness, school holidays and exclusion.
- Certain types of fostering will require you (or one carer if fostering as a couple), nor to work due to the demands of the children and young people that may be placed with you.
