Becoming a Foster Parent

If you have ever thought about what it would be like to make a massive and positive change in someone's life, it might be time to think about fostering. If so, you might think about talking to us. We're Family Fostering Partners and what we want for our entire team, including our valued foster parents, is to build bright, positive futures for youngsters who have been deprived of their natural chance at an optimistic outcome in life.

Whether the loss resulted from the death or severe illness of a parent or parents or (more probably) from violence, neglect, and abuse, the child or young person needs someone to help him or her succeed in the world. Here in South Wales, Family Fostering Partners is looking for people to help provide caring and loving homes for looked after children. Apart from a few basics, there really aren’t any hard and fast rules about who can be a carer.

The basics are that you do need to be over 21, have a spare bedroom, and the ability provide a stable home to a looked after young person in need. If you tick these boxes, then you might just make a brilliant foster carer. There are other so-called softer skills that you need such as patience, a good sense of humour, gentle and enduring communication skills, and flexibility.

One of the elements that can be difficult for you to cope with is that the youngster may be in care for a short time or a long time and you don't always know which it will be. You have to be able to open your heart for a short-term placement even though you know their stay with you may end sooner than you would wish. It is not possible most of the time to know how long a placement will last. That information is rarely known ahead of time.

Local authorities in Wales are the decision makers when it comes to removing children from their homes. It is the local authority that decides whether to return the child to his or her home or to place the child in long-term care or to arrange for adoption.

Thus, a short-term placement might turn into a long-term placement should the decision be that the birth parents cannot ultimately take care of the young person.

Aside from the length of the placement, there are many different types of fostering. Parent and child foster placements are becoming more common as a parent or parents and their young children or babies live with carers who assess and support the parenting skills of the parent while also protecting the infant or toddler. Sibling placements are also needed so that brothers and sisters can be placed together to preserve the family unit.

At this moment, there are youngsters in South Wales whose life can be changed by you. If you are interested in becoming a foster carer, our dedicated staff team is ready to talk to you about what is involved in making this decision a reality. Just give us a call on 03300 948816 or drop us an email to info@familyfosteringpartners.co.uk