What Is Fostering

Fostering is looking after a child, in your own home, who for a variety of reasons is unable to live with their own family.

It is challenging and rewarding, exhausting and invigorating.  There is little in this life that will make you as exhilarated or so depressed.

When children need an alternative family they are taken into care by their own Local Authority.  Their social worker may find them accommodation within their own area, or may approach an IFA, such as Family Matters, to see if we have suitable foster carers.
Once a child is living with our carers the child’s social worker retains responsibility for them, whilst we look after our carers.
Fostering is always a team effort, and the “corporate parent” will include many people, including the LA social workers, the foster carers, IFA social workers, therapists, doctors and hopefully the child’s parents and family.

But it is the foster carer who gets up at night because the child is having nightmares; takes two trolleys round the supermarket because the family is so large;  comforts the child when they are missing their family, and celebrates when they receive a good behaviour award at school.