Foster Carers needed
A request from the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust…
The vision of Health and Social Care Fostering is to inspire ordinary people to make an extraordinary difference to a child’s life through fostering.
All children have a right to grow up in a safe, secure and caring environment. Our goal is to find the right foster placement for each child. To do so, we aim to recruit a wide range of foster carers so that we have the opportunity to place children with trained carers who best meet their needs.
Need
There is a regional shortage of Health and Social Care foster carers. This means children may be moved away from their local area, school, family and friends and may be separated from their siblings. The five Trusts need a broad range of foster carers to meet the demand of children requiring a foster placement and enable them to be placed with the most suitable carers, limiting disruption and instability in the children’s lives.
There is a particular need for foster carers who could offer a child a full time commitment, either on a short term or long term basis. There is also a particular need for foster carers to look after children who are of school age. However, whatever time or level of commitment you could offer to a child in need, your local Trust would be very grateful to hear from you.
That could be you!
Carer profile
Ann is a single carer who was approved to provide respite care for children aged from birth to ten years, approximately eighteen months ago. Ann works full time in the nursing profession and explained that the fostering assessment helped her to “realise the ages and types of children I was suitable for and those I was not suitable for”. She would advise people not to be put off by the assessment process which she found to be straightforward and it helped her to “know myself and my own strengths”.
Ann’s skills lie in caring for younger children and she has had three respite placements to date. All of these children have learning disabilities – some have a diagnosis of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome. Ann feels that having patience and stamina are important qualities in caring for the children and she is not fearful regarding managing and meeting their care needs. Whilst Ann’s nursing background has been helpful in this regard, she explained that many people with the right information, knowledge and training would be able to care for a learning disabled child and that having these things explained, reduces any fear and anxiety. Ann also said that being well prepared before a placement begins is important as is the good support she receives from the Social Workers involved.
Ann is very much enjoying her fostering to date and finds that providing respite fits in well with her working and family life. She is in total “child mode” during the weekend she is a carer and has found that her extended family also enjoy being part of the child’s life to the mutual benefit of all. Ann gets a sense of satisfaction of a ‘job well done’ when a child has experienced a positive time with her and recognises that this is important for the child’s family as well. Her experience to date, of caring for children with a learning disability, has been a rewarding one. As she says “the knowledge that I can do something productive for them, do their exercises and that type of thing, gives a great sense of satisfaction”.
Ann has found that fostering has enriched her life and her advice for anyone thinking about fostering is, “don’t be afraid to make that first phone call – ask!” She is glad she did.
If you are interested in finding out more about fostering, please contact us on 0500 827 558