Do I have what it takes to become a foster parent?

If you are a caring person, with common sense, who does not readily give up once making a commitment, then you are on the right track……and a good sense of humour helps too!

Life has not always gone smoothly for me – is this a problem?

No. You don’t have to have had a perfect life (who has!). We are looking for people with a broad range of experience from all walks of life – but what is important is that you are able to positively use your life experience to help support a child or young person.

Do I need to own my own house?

No. We know it is difficult to get onto the property ladder. It’s fine to be in rented accommodation, as long as the tenancy is secure.

Do I need a spare bedroom?

Yes, every child fostered must have his or her own room.

Do I need to be a parent already?

No, but some experience of children is essential.

Am I too young / too old?

You do have to be at least 21 years old, but you don’t have to worry about an upper age limit – being in good health and having the ability to relate well to children is what counts.

Do I need to be married to foster?

No, you don’t need to be married, in a civil partnership, or have a partner, though if you are in a relationship you do need to have lived together for at least 2 years.

Can I still be employed?

Yes. You don’t have to give up your job, as long as you can make sure you are available for children’s meetings and foster carer training events.

Do I have to agree to foster for all ages and for both boys and girls?

No, you can specify both the age range and gender of the children you would like to foster, but this would be fully explored with you as you go through your training as ‘preferences’ often change as people become both more aware and self‐confident.

Will account be taken of my own family’s needs?

Yes. Whenever a child is placed with a foster family, we always go through a process of ‘matching’ the needs of the child with the needs of the foster family. This is a two‐way process, where information is shared with the potential foster carers and their views and opinions regarding their ability to help and support a particular child are actively sought and fully acknowledged.

There is no obligation on carers to foster any or all children that are suggested to them. Indeed, Aspirations Fostering are committed to minimising the possibility of care arrangements breaking down, and will always try to get the best possible ‘match’ between child and foster family.

What challenges can I expect?

It’s stating the obvious, but children come in all shapes and sizes, with a range of different needs. Some, from chaotic backgrounds, will have difficulty in coming to terms with their new circumstances, and may have ‘learned’ strategies for dealing with their problems which seem inappropriate and self‐defeating.

Whilst you may be seen as the immediate answer to their problems, it is just as likely that you will need to earn trust before it is given, whilst at the same time helping the child to develop new behaviours and responses to difficult situations.

So the challenges are not inconsiderable, but, as any experienced foster carer will tell you, with the right motivation, support, and training, they are not insurmountable. And the rewards for bringing a positive change to a troubled young life are truly unique.

And what support will there be?

Aspirations Fostering are committed to ensuring advice, guidance and support will always be on hand, not just during ‘normal office hours’, but through our carer out of hours support line, 24/7.

Our qualified social workers are highly experienced, with backgrounds including specialist expertise in helping foster parents and parents find ways to effectively work with troubled behaviours.

Through our Support Workers, we also offer practical help to carers to deal with, amongst other situations, those times when you literally have to be in two places at once!

And, in the event of an emergency, or should things just get too much, we will always look at ways in which we might help you take a short break from your caring role.

What training will I need to undertake?

Prior to becoming an approved foster carer there is an introductory “Introduction to Fostering” training course which normally lasts two to three days. Additionally, through the assessment process, we will also work with you to identify any particular training needs you might have to equip you to be both effective and comfortable in your new role.

Once approved, there are a number of further training workshops which all new foster carers must attend in their first year. Thereafter, Aspirations Fostering will provide regular training, identified by carers and staff, designed to address the needs of both children and carers.

Aspirations Fostering will also support you to complete the Training, Support and Development Standards for Foster Care, which help you to develop and reflect on your practice.

Is it possible to take a holiday or a longer break from fostering?

Yes. In fact, foster carers will often be supporting a child or young person for a limited period, perhaps whilst social services are exploring the possibility of adoption, or, for instance, when it is planned that the child will return to his or her birth parent(s) after a specific difficulty has been resolved. Subject to particular circumstances, when a child returns to parents or moves on, we may well encourage the foster carer to take a short ‘break’ from fostering to re‐charge batteries and reflect on how things have gone.

There may also be times when, perhaps arising from changing family circumstances, foster carers would like to take a longer break. Again, this is perfectly alright. Aspirations Fostering wants to support our carers to be the best that they might be, and understands that sometimes a longer break is needed. All we would ask from carers ‘on sabbatical’ is that we keep in touch so that we can continue to support you as best we can.

What vetting takes place before I can be considered?

Background checks take place to ensure that there is nothing in your past that would automatically prevent you from becoming a foster carer (e.g. a criminal offence against a child) and an assessment is undertaken to explore your suitability.

This is very much a joint process of exploration, rather than simply checking‐up on you. There will be a recommendation at the end of the assessment regarding your becoming a foster carer, but alongside the training you will undertake, we know that the process will help you to decide if fostering is for you.