Is fostering for me?
Foster carers come in all shapes and sizes, are you one?
“Fostering is by far the most rewarding experience, being able to foster enables us to make a positive difference to the lives of children who have yet to discover so much, and the reward is ours”
Dem, CFC Foster Carer
Why foster?
Fostering is one of the most rewarding experiences you will ever have
Every year thousands of children need to be looked after by foster carers because their families are not able to take care of them for a variety of reasons.
You are needed
The best place for a child who cannot live with their own family is to be placed with another family who can give them attention, support and lots of time to listen.
What you can give
Being someone who can just listen and support a child can be a vital step in helping them make sense of what is happening to them and help them think positively about their future.
Who can foster?
We welcome people from all backgrounds, communities and circumstances. We believe that children belong in families and their needs are varied. Our children and young people need a wide range of family types.
What will I need?
A spare room
Practically, you’ll only need to have a spare room - we will provide training, loads of support and a generous financial allowance.
Patience
Personally, however, you will need to be patient, caring, reflective, interested in the child’s education and well-being, sympathetic and dedicated. You need to be prepared and so will your family (if you have one), for the ups and downs of fostering.
Understanding
The angry outbursts, the tantrums, the times when your child suddenly wants to talk about painful feelings (and the times when they want to keep those feelings to themselves). You will need to be sensitive to their experiences and their temperaments but also prepared to maintain clear, fair boundaries.
Perks of fostering
Allowance
Foster carers are paid an allowance for every child placed with them.
Support
CFC will be with you every step of the way so you will never be alone.
Community
There is a whole community of foster carers out there, it’s a great opportunity to make friends.
Making a difference
Lastly, you will be making a real difference to a child’s life, potentially giving them a future they could not have without you.
Who are we?
Community Foster Care provides foster carers to local authorities who are looking to find homes for children and young people. Importantly, unlike many, we operate as a charity which means we do not have shareholders or owners. Therefore, everything is invested back into children and young people, their families and the communities in which we work. From the outset, our founders sought to do things differently, challenging the status quo about who can foster.
Why foster with us?
There are lots of reasons to choose Community Foster Care for your fostering career. Our foster carers tell us that there is a real sense of being involved in a big family or community. As an Independent Foster Agency (IFA) we’re quite small, so you will get to know everybody well. Our values are critical to us and really do inform our practice and decisions.
We are a charity
Our charitable status means that all our funds are used to enhance the lives of children, families and our communities. It also means that our Trustees won’t be selling to another bigger agency, which can happen with private (for profit) IFAs.
We have a culture of support
Our culture includes promoting life-long learning in us all, celebrating success and learning from our mistakes and we can only be successful by working effectively together with partners in and out of the community. If you are to foster with us, it is important you are aligned with our values.
What else do I need to know
We have a whole host of resources for potential foster carers, but if you can’t find what you are looking for just get in touch
Ready for the next step?
For answers to common questions (such as ‘how much do I get paid as a foster carer?’), please complete the form below and take a look at our free information pack. On completing the form, one of our social workers will get in touch to chat through your enquiry.
If you have a specific question about fostering, feel free to enter it below and we’ll be happy to help.
*On submitting this form, you will be emailed a link to the information pack - this can sometimes end up in the junk folder, so please check there too.
Foster Carer Stories
This is Wendy and Russell’s story
‘We have looked after these children for 18 months and they really enjoy the weekly visits taking the dog for a walk, going fishing with me and doing hair and beauty with Wendy! We have also looked after children on a long-term basis and they stay in touch regularly, visiting with their children.’
Russell says ‘Fostering is fabulous’ he finds the rewards wonderful, seeing children and young people making small but positive steps, remembering little pieces of advice he and Wendy have given them.
