How Are Fosterers Supported?

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Foster support is critical to the success of a foster placement. Surrounding the foster parents should be a network of support which enables placements to work for both the foster child and the foster family.

With foster support, having a unique and dedicated approach is essential and therefore using a number of different channels to ensure that fosters are supported is the way forward.

A 24/7 Approach
Fostering doesn’t fit neatly into 9-5, and so neither should foster support. When you foster through an agency such as FCA you have 24/7 access to local support to ensure a truly family approach to support.

Team Parenting®
Team Parenting® is the FCA’s unique model of ensuring all of the professionals involved in a child’s life are pooling resources and taking a holistic approach to the care of the child. They then become a close and supportive group where the foster carer’s voice is equally important.

Social Work Support
We ensure each placement has a dedicated social worker who is responsible for supervising the placement and arranging the support you need. They are your primary point of contact and act as a funnel to a successful placement by enabling you to access all the support you need.

Therapy Service
A dedicated therapy service has been established throughout many fostering agencies to help provide you with the tools you need to help your foster child. The therapy service also acts as an ‘outlet’ for you so that you can respond well to the needs of the child.

Therapy services are a valuable avenue of foster support as they won’t gloss over the difficulties you may be experiencing. Instead, they help you approach things in a way which meets the child’s needs and therefore works to resolve the difficulties.

Furthermore, joint therapy can be provided for both you and your foster child enabling you to work together towards your goals. Additionally, therapeutic training is available where needed.

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Education Support
Providing stability and achievement within the framework of education is vital for a child in foster care. This is only possible with dedicated education support. Through providing education support, our goal is to enable the fostered child to reach their potential.

This education-focused foster support is facilitated through dedicated education officers. Their role is to ensure children access their education and transition from one stage of their education to the next.

Children and Young People’s Support Service (CYPSS)
CYPSS is a distinctive service which looks at the support needed on a case-by-case basis. Therefore, the support they offer is immensely varied. They may provide help with transport, or accessing activities and holidays, supervision for contact visits, or handling emergencies. Their role really is whatever you need it to be.

Foster Training
Fostering training is offered by many agencies to ensure you are well-equipped and feel supported by your own knowledge and expertise. A huge range of courses exist, both for new foster carers, existing carers, or those looking to offer specialist care.

Financial Support
It is understood across the industry that part of a working foster placement means that finances are taken care of. This shows just how important financial support is alongside all other forms of assistance. Many foster carers receive payments appropriate to the specific placement. You can always discuss financial support with us.

Get in touch with your local fostering agency for more information on the support they offer. Fostering agencies such as FCA as always there to help!

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