You can make a difference

This month sees National Foster Care Fortnight take centre stage – a great time to get involved and support Scotland’s children, says

EVERY year there is a greater need for a range of foster carers – and it is that broad spectrum of the population that the Fostering Network in Scotland is hoping to reach during its annual awareness campaign.

Foster Care Fortnight – from May 12-25 – aims to attract not only a greater number of carers, but also people from all walks of life.

The headline to this year’s campaignis“GuessWhoFOSTERS?”. It hopes to explode the myths surrounding who can and can’t be a foster carer. The truth is that there are few exceptions – what an individual can bring to the role is more important than their finances, marital status, or sexuality.

Having a broad representation of people means it is more likely to find the best fit for each child first-time, rather than having additional upheaval in what might already be a troubled life. It is a benefit if siblings can be placed together, but there are other issues that need to be addressed.

Some children might need to be the only child in the home or maybe it would be best for them to be the youngest after shouldering responsibility beyond their years. It also helps children to stay close to their school, friends and their extended family.

The first thing potential foster carers should know is there’s no need to already be a parent. There is no legal minimum and no official upper age limit. There are also many gay and lesbian foster carers.

The household can be a family with children, a co-habiting family with children, a single person with children – or any of these with no children. Also, that home can be rented accommodation and there’s no need for the carer to already be in employment, as allowances are paid by the fostering agency, whether it’s a local authority or private agency.

What unites all foster carers is a wish to make a difference in the lives of children. Listening skills are a must along with an optimistic nature, patience, and the confidence to control difficult situations. Asense of humour is also necessary.

Stability is absolutely crucial as children might have come from an environment where they haven’t felt safe or secure.

It’s also important to know that the role is part of a larger team – responsibility is shared and a fundamental part of the role is working with others for the good of the children – and asking for support when it’s required.

It’s important that there is a steady flow of people applying to become carers, as the process can take up to eight months.

After contacting The Fostering Network for more information and being directed to fostering services in the area, information packs will be sent out.

It’s important to do thorough research and meet those who are currently fostering children – there is no better way to find out if you are suitable for the role.

Those who are keen to continue will make a formal application and begin the assessment process.

Training follows along with background checks to make sure children will be safe and cared for properly.

A fostering panel will review information gathered over the months and make a recommendation on suitability. It is the chosen foster service who will make the final decision. Once approved, the service can begin to match children in need of care.

There are many different kinds of foster care, from emergency care where a child can arrive at very short notice at any time of the day or night.

In this case it might only be a few days before a child moves on. Short-term care is usually for a period before they can return to their family or while longer-term fostering or adoption is arranged.

Long-term fostering can last for many years, and from April 2015 in Scotland, the age that children can be fostered until will rise from 16 to 21 years old.

There are other specialist forms of care but during training and assessment the type of care best suited will become clearer.

This is a brief overview of what can be achieved by dedicated foster carers, but talk to The Fostering Network for more information. Call 0141 204 1400 from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday or email fosterlinescotland@fostering.net