One call may just CHANGE a life
Fostering children with disabilities can bring rewards for all, says Quarriers
IT may be a challenge at times but fostering a child with disabilities can be particularly rewarding.
Those who have come forward to offer permanent foster placements for young people with physical and learning disabilities have seen the children flourish, according to social care charity Quarriers.
The charity has developed a specialist fostering service to provide permanent foster placements to children with physical and learning disabilities. This very specialist service has been fully operational since 2014, offering what are expected to be lasting placements, made on a planned basis and specifically for children with disabilities. The charity’s carers are based across west central Scotland with the children referred by a number of different local authorities.
“Quarriers have the skills, experience and infrastructure to support and develop carers to provide high quality placements that meet the varying needs of the children referred,” said Gerry Sweeney of Quarriers.
“We achieve great outcomes for children and young people as evidenced by our ‘Excellent’ Care Inspectorate grading for the quality of the care and support we provide. We carefully match children referred to carers and will not take a referral if the match does not seem right.
“Our carers come to us because they are interested in providing a family home to a child with a disability and know they will get the specialist training and necessary high quality support from our experienced team of workers.”
EXCEEDING LIMITATIONS
He added: “We know our service is highly regarded. Referring social workers and others who work with the children we support can see the difference our carers make. As noted in our last Care Inspection report: ‘Young people were exceeding limitations that others had imposed on them in terms of their ability and were thriving in placement, making excellent progress’.
“Our carers tell us the service works for them, their families and the children they care for. Our carers have seen the great improvements in the children placed with them.
“Although the children have disabilities, our carers know they also have abilities and potential and have experienced the great reward of the children flourishing in their care – making a positive and lasting difference.”
Those interested in becoming a carer should have an open and non-judgmental approach to caring and disability, with a willingness to work as part of a multi-agency team to achieve the positive outcomes, building on the child’s potential.
They should be over 21 years of age and in reasonable health, be available to care for the child through the day and have room in their house to give the child their own bedroom.
All carers go through an assessment process and are offered the necessary general and specialist training. Quarriers offers competitive fees and allowances.
Anyone interested in finding out more about fostering should contact Quarriers Family Placement Team on 0141 954 1010.
“Make the call,” said Gerry. “At worst you have wasted a few minutes in the day – it might however be the start of a new and rewarding lifestyle change.”