What is fostering?
Sometimes family problems mean that parents are unable to care for their children or need a short break from caring. When this happens Social Services may arrange for the children to stay with foster carers.
Being a foster carer involves:
- caring for someone else's child or children in your home as part of your family
- providing a safe, stable environment for children and young people from babies to 18 years
- enabling the children to keep in contact with their own family
You can choose which type of fostering may suit your family. A child may need foster care for:
- a short time while difficulties are sorted out
- longer periods, perhaps until s/he reaches 18 years of age
- a planned short stay to bring a much needed break to a family.
Most children return to their own families after a stay with foster carers.
What makes a good foster carer?
People with a variety of life experiences and from all religious, ethnic and cultural backgrounds can become successful foster carers.
To be a foster carer you'll need:
- patience and an understanding of the needs of children in foster care
- experience of looking after children
- time and energy to care for children who may have complex needs.
You'll also need to be able to understand and accept the child's background and be willing to work with family members as well as health, social services and education workers to promote the all round care of the children.
You don't need to be married or own your home to be a foster carer but you do need to be committed to supporting children and young people to enable them to reach their full potential.
Overall the role of a foster carer is to help children to feel settled, confident and happy whilst also being supportive of their family relationships.
Training & support for foster carers
We help with training and support before and during your time as a foster carer. This includes:
- practical advice and assistance from the child's social worker and other specialists such as clinical psychologists
- round the clock telephone advice from the Social Services Out of Hours Service when our offices are closed
- monthly support group meetings where you can meet other foster carers and share experience and information.
Financial support
Foster carers are paid:
- a weekly allowance to help with the day to day expense of looking after the child plus
- a fee for each child which varies depending on their age.
Higher fees are payable for some fostering schemes to recognise the extra work involved.
How to become a foster carer
Before becoming a foster carer we'll discuss the various aspects of fostering with you and also enable you to meet some foster carers to find out more. If you then apply to become a foster carer the next steps will be to:
- take up personal references
- carry out official reference checks including police and criminal records
- ask you to have a medical examination with your GP
- visit you at home and talk with all members of the household about fostering.
We'll then ask you to contribute to a report which is considered by a panel of people who recommend suitable foster carers to the Director of Social Services.
The whole process can take up to six months after which we hope to match you with children who need your support.
Children who need foster care
Children needing foster care are:
- from varied backgrounds with a variety of needs and experiences including children with a disability
- girls and boys
- babies to teenagers
- brothers and sisters wanting to stay together.
To find out more about fostering
If you're thinking of becoming a foster carer please get in touch. We'll be happy to help you decide if now is the right time for you to consider fostering.
Please phone the Fostering Team on 01202 456757
Bournemouth Social Services Placement Team
North Bournemouth Local Office, 27 Slades Farm Road,
Bournemouth, BH10 4ES
Fax: 01202 456719
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