Fostering - Your questions answered

Every child has the right to live in a safe and caring home.

Fostering is about looking after children in a safe and secure environment when they can't live with their own families.

Following incidents such as family difficulties, illness or drug related problems, it is sometimes best for a child to be placed in a foster home. In some cases fostering can be very short term, perhaps even overnight, and many children return home to their parents once the problem has been resolved. In other cases, children are unable to return home and need permanent foster care, or even adoption.

Fostering is not always an easy ride. Some of the children and young people needing care have experienced violence or abuse, many will be distressed and some may be very demanding. All children are likely to experience some anxiety at moving from their home into a new environment and will need stability and the support of caring, loving foster carers.

You must be able to:

• be patient, understanding, tolerant and be able to provide a warm and secure home
• have the extra time and energy a foster child would need
• be willing to develop new skills
• communicate effectively and work positively with a child's family
• commit to training on an on-going basis to develop your skills and knowledge
• work as part of a team with other foster carers and social workers
• encourage and support children and young people in their education
• be able to bounce back and overcome problems you may meet
• have enough space in your home - preferably a spare bedroom or proper sharing arrangements
• be prepared for us to learn more about you and your family. By law this involves an assessment process including training, personal and medical references, police and statutory checks