What is Fostering?

Unfortunately, some families have unstable environments & children may need some time in a more stable & warmer environment to help.

Usually, the unstable environments could be due to learning difficulties, substance misuse or conditions/mental health, however, it is not limited to this.

Children come into foster care for a variety of reasons. It could be that a child comes into foster care due to neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence exposure or substance misuse exposure. A child needs a stable home environment. Exposure to these things can have long term effects on children, therefore as a foster carer giving them a nurturing and stable environment will be beneficial to their wellbeing.

The assumption that families are always at fault for children coming into care and that foster children are always difficult to look after is not true. This is the case on occasions; however, it varies case by case. For example, sometimes families struggle with a child that has special needs as they require extra attention & special support.

It can be intense for families to do this on a fulltime basis, so they may need help from a foster carer on a short-term basis (weekend or a couple of weeks), this type of foster care is called respite, however, sometimes it could be on a long-term basis.