Debunking Myths – Skills, Experience & Training?
- What is a foster carer?
- What skills, experience, and qualities do foster carers need?
- How can you become a foster carer?
What Is A Foster Carer?
A foster carer is somebody who takes a child or young person in the care system into their home, either on a temporary or more permanent basis. They then become responsible for looking after them, ensuring their needs are met and that they have a caring and loving roof over their head to aid growth and development.
What Skills, Experience, & Qualities Do Foster Carers Need?
Regarding essential skills and qualities we look for in foster carers, the characteristics at the top of the list would have to be empathy, resilience, compassion and patience. Being a good foster carer is all about being supportive and using effective communication. Good teamwork is also important, especially for complete cohesion across the essential support network the child or young person in your care will have around them. Consistency is also key; like any parental figure, you need to establish routines and lifestyles that best suit the new addition to your family. Flexibility and adaptability are also important here, as no two days will be the same. Overall, all we really ask from our foster carers is that they are open-minded, loving, and accepting, as vulnerable children or young people in care often need a little extra support.
To debunk the popular myth about foster carers, no prior experience is needed. Still, security and other lifestyle checks will need to be carried out as safeguarding is of optimal importance. Training is usually required during the fostering process to ensure you are fully equipped to deal with the emotional and physical challenges that come with fostering. At Changing Futures, we believe that focusing on your growth and development can also help to inform the growth and development of the child or young person in your care. Our initial and continuous training program, our Therapeutic Foster Parent Training, encapsulates this idea! This program has been created alongside foster parents and young people we have worked with over the years, and meets the needs of foster carers so that they can meet the needs of the children in their care.
How Can You Become A Foster Carer?
Becoming a foster carer is often presented as a long and complex process, but it really is quite simple. It all starts with that first enquiry. Enquiring simply means getting in touch with us about your interest in fostering. We make this step as easy as possible at Changing Futures, and there are many ways in which you can get in touch with us, including from our contact page, Facebook message or ringing 01429 363127. As soon as we hear from you, our registered manager will get back to you. From there, we will fully support you through the next stages, including all of the essential safeguarding checks, the training process, the fostering assessment panel and the eventual placement. For a more in-depth look at the fostering process, please take a look at our complete guide, ‘How Does Fostering Work: A Simple Guide To Becoming A Foster Parent’.
At Changing Futures Fostering, we’re 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 what a foster carer is 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!