Everything You Need To Know
- At Changing Futures, we understand that becoming a foster parent is a big decision that can seem exciting and daunting
- This is why we aim to provide unlimited, ongoing support to guide you on your fostering journey
- if you are thinking of becoming a foster carer, there are a few bits of advice and some considerations that we hope will aid your decision and ease any apprehension you may have.
At Changing Futures Fostering, we understand that becoming a foster parent is a big decision that can initially seem both exciting and daunting. This is why we aim to provide potential and existing foster parents, as well as the public, with all of the fostering knowledge and know-how they need to change the lives of children and young people! Our support is unlimited and will continue throughout your fostering journey. But let’s start at the beginning; if you are thinking of becoming a foster parent, we’d like to offer you a few bits of advice and some considerations that we hope will aid your decision and ease any apprehension you may have!
- Why Do You Want To Become A Foster Parent?
We believe that the best place to start when considering becoming a foster parent is the
reasons behind your decision. What are your motivations behind wanting to take this step? Do you have any fears or worries about becoming a foster parent? What sort of fostering do you think will be the best fit for you? Our role at Changing Futures is obviously to provide vulnerable children and young people with a stable and fun environment where they can grow and prosper. Child and young person safety is therefore of the utmost importance to us, with children in care often having experienced some very tough stuff that means that they can’t live with their birth family. This means that your motivations behind wanting to become a foster parent are also very important to us, and we are happy to sit down face-to-face with you to discuss these questions for your peace of mind and for ours!
- Could You Foster?
The next thing to consider is whether you are eligible to foster. In simple terms, if you are over 21, have at least one spare bedroom, have consistent access to a car, and are a British citizen or have indefinite leave to remain, you are well on your way! But if you want to understand a bit more about any exceptions to these criteria, please visit our Who Can Foster Page or contact one of our team members.
- How Does The Fostering Process Work? What Training Is Required?
The fostering process is fairly straightforward and begins with getting in touch with us for a quick conversation about fostering with us. Different agencies may work slightly differently, but with us, this leads to a home visit, where we can provide you with more information about fostering and how our agency works. Next is the crucial stage, the fostering assessment, which is where all of the required checks are done. Training comes next, where you will go through our Therapeutic Training Program, which has been specially developed with the help of foster parents and young people who have been in our care to equip you with all of the skills you need to become successful foster parents! The fostering panel is the final step, which is essential to becoming an approved foster parent.
- Becoming A Foster Parent With Changing Futures Fostering
We operate within a radius of about 40 minutes around our office headquarters in Hartlepool, covering areas such as North Yorkshire, Teesside, County Durham, and Sunderland. This allows us to be close to the foster parents, children and young people who are a part of our agency. Becoming a foster parent with Changing Futures Fostering comes with an extensive range of benefits, including ongoing support and training and social worker supervision with frequent face-to-face and remote support, to name a few. Our aim is to provide vulnerable children and young people with a happy, safe environment for them to grow and develop as any child should, and we’d love to have you aboard! For more information on fostering with Changing Futures, please visit our Foster With Us Page.
- Where Do We Go From Here?
If you’re interested in becoming a foster parent with Changing Futures, then we’d love to hear from you so that we can set up a meeting. There are lots of ways that you can get in touch with us, either through our Contact Page, our Facebook or by giving us a ring on 01429 363 127. However you’d prefer to contact us, we can’t wait to hear from you and welcome you to the Changing Futures family!
At Changing Futures Fostering, we’re all about providing foster parents with the support they need to really make a difference to the life of a vulnerable child or young person! If you need any more information on becoming a foster carer or about the fostering process in general, please click here to contact us. Or, please feel free to email us at admin@changingfuturesne.co.uk or give us a call on 01429 363 127 to speak to our brilliant fostering team!