A Step-By-Step Look At The Fostering Process
- How do you make an inquiry to become a foster parent?
- What happens after that?
- How does Changing Futures support your fostering journey?
How Do You Make An Enquiry To Become A Foster Parent?
There are a lot of myths surrounding becoming a foster parent and getting into foster care, with a lot of people apprehensive about it being complicated and confusing, when in reality, it is incredibly straightforward. Becoming a foster carer starts with a single step: an enquiry. There are 3 ways you can enquire:
- Our contact page
- A Facebook message
- Or by ringing 01429 363127
Once we hear from you, our dedicated recruitment officer will get back to you. Once we know you are interested, we will arrange a discussion and answer any questions you may have about the fostering process. At Changing Futures, we also use this as an opportunity to find out a bit more about you, including why you want to foster, if you will meet application requirements, and your current situation including your current living arrangements and if you have a spare bedroom. This can help inform decisions later on down the line, including which type of fostering placement would be the right fit for you (short or long term) and whether we think you would gel better with children or young people, for example. Sarah, our incredible Fostering Manager, explains a bit more about what happens when you enquire here.
What Happens After That?
After your initial enquiry, a home visit will be arranged. If this home visit goes well, we will invite you to begin the application process, which involves completing a foster application form and consenting to the essential background checks which are required by the local council or local authority. Next is the fostering assessment, which involves the mentioned background checks that help inform whether you are eligible to look after a foster child as well as gathering information about you to help understand if becoming a Foster Parent is right for you. At this time, you will also undergo our Therapeutic Training Programme, which will equip you with all the skills you need to better understand the needs of the young child or young person in your care. No two children are the same, so our approach to training rejects a one-size-fits-all attitude. Some children may have more challenging behaviour, and some may still be in contact with their birth family. This is why our programme looks at all eventualities. The final step is the fostering panel. We promise that this is less scary than it sounds. It is just a panel meeting that involves communication between at least 5 or 6 individuals, including our team, an assessing social worker, and the agency decision maker who reviews your fostering journey so far. If this goes well, you are all set!
For a more comprehensive, in-depth overview, you can view our ‘How Does Fostering Work: A Simple Guide To Becoming A Foster Parent’.
How Does Changing Futures Support Your Fostering Journey?
Changing Futures offers an unmatched fostering service which includes support from the very beginning of your fostering journey. From initial enquiry to training, background checks, and every stage of the application and assessment processes, our team will be there to offer ongoing support. And it doesn’t end there! Once you become part of the Changing Futures family, our team, social workers, and other foster parents and foster families will be there to help whenever you need support, guidance, or advice.
At Changing Futures Fostering, we’re a fostering agency all about providing our foster parents with the information and support they need to really make a difference in a vulnerable child’s life. If you need any more information about how to become a foster parent or the fostering process, or if you have any other questions or queries, 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!