In addition to the generous financial support packages received by Foster Carers all fostering Agencies provide support packages. There may be subtle differences in the amount/frequency of support you will receive from different agencies and this is something to consider when choosing a Fostering Agency.

Once you have decided to become a foster carer, but before you enter the formal assessment stage, you will be invited to attend some basic training including an understanding of the legal framework relating to looked after children, meeting young people’s care needs, working in partnership with birth families and professionals and the impact of fostering on themselves and their families. This training is often called ‘Skills to Foster’ and is something of a ‘taster’ course to determine, before the formal assessment that fostering is still right for you and your family.
Once you have been ‘approved’ as a foster carer you will be required to attend mandatory training in child protection, policies and procedures, caring for a young person who has experienced sexual abuse and safe care practices. Your agency should offer you ongoing training throughout your time as a foster carer to ensure that your skills and knowledge are kept up to date.

Foster caring, although rewarding, can be a challenging undertaking and your agency will offer you intensive support through a dedicated Supervising Social Worker. Your social worker will be a specialist in the area of fostering and have a real understanding of issues which might arise when caring for a foster child. These Social workers will visit you regularly and will be your point of contact with the agency.

All foster carers have access to their agency’s duty social worker 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This ensures that there will always be someone available to you during stressful times or in the event of an emergency.

Many fostering agencies offer ‘respite breaks’, where your foster child will spend a short time with another foster family or they may offer a series of support sessions with a worker who takes the foster child on activities during the week. When you identify which agency is right for you, these are questions you can ask them.

Fostering Connections can help you to choose the right agency, simply complete our application form and we will identify the agencies who meet your requirements.