5 things you should know about fostering
Fostering is an incredibly rewarding role. Here are 5 things you may not have realised about fostering - shared by foster parents.
Making the choice to foster is a big decision, and we want to ensure that you have all the information you need when starting your fostering journey. This month at Fosterplus we’ve asked a handful of our fantastic foster parents what they think all newcomers to fostering should know - here are their top insights for folks who are thinking about fostering.
5 things to know before beginning your fostering journey
1. The assessment process is not as difficult as you may think.
The process of becoming a foster parent can seem daunting when you’re first starting out. However, once you make your first step by enquiring with our team, you’ll get to see just how simple things can be.
After your initial phone chat with our fostering advisor, a member of our team will visit your home to get to know more about you and answer all of your questions about fostering. We’ll share all of the information you need, and cover everything from the different types of fostering to the financial support we'll be offering you. If you choose to move forward with your fostering assessment, we’ll conduct a range of background checks. You’ll also have 8-10 home visits with one of our social workers to help ensure that you’re the right fit to foster, and that fostering will be a good fit for your family.
We asked foster mum Stavrina about her experiences with the fostering assessment process. She said:
“I was dreading the assessment process because I always imagined it would be very daunting, very long winded, invasive and intrusive - but it was completely the opposite! I actually enjoyed the process, it was reassuring, comforting, and made it all feel real."
During your 4-6 month fostering assessment you’ll also take part in training to give you all the skills you’ll need to foster, before attending a panel meeting where you’ll be officially approved as a foster parent.
Learn more about your fostering assessment, or download a copy of our Guide to the Assessment Process.
2. The support you get is even more than you can imagine.
Here at Fosterplus, we make sure that all of our foster parents benefit from a huge range of support. We spoke with foster parents Brandon and Adam, who have recently begun to care for two siblings. They said:
“I wish we'd known from the beginning how much support we were going to get. So much training is given, and so much networking is available... it's like you go into an extended family. Our support network are involved daily with our fostering and our children. Without them, we'd be lost!”
As a foster carer with Fosterplus, you’ll have access to this support network, which includes a range of professionals such as education specialists, therapeutic services and your own personal Supervising Social Worker. We also ensure that you’re supported in other ways, including:
- A generous fostering allowance and ad-hoc bonuses
- Regular support groups where you can form connections with local foster parents
- A 24/7 out-of-hours helpline for support whenever you need it
- Free and flexible training, delivered both online and in person
- Support designed for children, tailored to both your foster children and your own children
3. You make lifelong relationships.
When you foster a child, they truly become a part of your family. Fostering a young person in need gives you the opportunity to shape their future for the better, all while creating a deep and lasting relationship. Many people choose to keep in touch long into adulthood, with former foster children coming back home to spend holidays with their foster families and coming together to celebrate big events like weddings and births as they go on to build their own lives and futures.
You’ll also have the chance to form lasting friendships with other foster parents through our regular family events, training opportunities and support groups. There will always be a friend on hand who understands the highs and lows of fostering and who can provide invaluable support. Theresa, one of our foster parents, highlights just how important her relationship has been with a fellow foster parent who became her mentor.
“The support we've received from Fosterplus has actually been quite incredible. I don't think anyone realised how tricky it was going to be; we needed an awful lot of backup, and my goodness, we've had that! Fosterplus provided a particular mentor to talk to us every week and help us with advice and guidance. That mentor has grown very close to our family, and is now one of our foster son's godparents.”
4. No fostering journey is the same.
Our foster parents come from all walks of life, just like the children they care for. Each child is unique and there are many types of fostering to suit different children’s needs. These include fostering siblings, fostering teens and parent and child fostering.
We encourage everyone to consider fostering, regardless of your age, gender identity, race, faith or sexuality. Whether you choose to foster with a partner or on your own, you can make an incredible difference to a young person’s life. Take foster dad Hugh, who took a huge leap by quitting his day job to become a full-time single foster parent. Hugh said:
“Becoming a single foster parent was a life-changing experience for me. I thought that people were going to think that I wouldn’t be able to do it on my own, but people were extremely supportive. I was glad that I took it on despite knowing that I could have faced stigma. There haven’t been any memorable challenges that we couldn’t overcome with the support of social workers, friends and family. The whole process is one big reward. It’s the best thing I’ve done in the last 10 years.”
5. It really is life changing.
No one remains unchanged while fostering. Becoming a foster parent will change not only the lives of the children you care for, but also your own life and those of everyone in your family. Becoming a foster parent is a big change which requires selflessness, determination, and the ability to adapt to all kinds of situations. From helping children to heal from trauma to ensuring they’re able to attend important meetings and visit their biological family, flexibility is an essential skill for foster parents.
Fostering is not an easy job, but it is rewarding like no other. Fostering can bring back light and laughter to a spare bedroom when your own children move out, or can serve as a fantastic career path for anyone with dreams of making a difference. Just take it from foster mum Tracey, who told us:
“My foster son said something to me that just brought a tear to my eye. He said, ‘Mum, I’m not sure where I’d be if it wasn’t for you. If it wasn’t for you I’d be in a gang or in prison.’ When I asked him what made him say that, he said he was just so grateful for how well I was looking after him. I could’ve burst into tears! Fostering is hard work, but it fills me with happiness. If you’ve got the time, space and patience to give a child a loving and stable home then go for it, but be prepared to have your ups and downs. Nothing is completely plain sailing and you have to work hard, but it’s well worth it.”
Our foster parents come from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, and we love to hear their voices. Read more from our library of stories from our foster parents.
Start your journey today!
We’re always on the lookout for driven and caring individuals who would make great foster parents. If you think fostering could be right for you and your family, get in touch with us today and a member of our friendly team will answer any questions you may have to help you get started.
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