Frequently asked questions
Will I have support as a foster carer?
What will I have to do about other elements of the child’s care?
Do children and young people have contact with their own families?
I have a police record - can I still be considered for becoming a foster carer?
What do I do next if I want to foster with Care Visions?
- What is fostering?
Fostering is looking after a child or young person in your home and caring for them whilst their own parents are unable to do so. Foster carers provide a stable family environment nurturing the child to help them develop and succeed until they can either return home or alternative plans are made. Watch our TV advert here to get an idea of why we need more foster carers. .
- Why are children fostered?
There are a wide range of reasons a child requires foster care. They may not be able to live with their own family, for example through bereavement, illness or family breakdown due to drug or alcohol misuse. In some cases, a child or young person may be removed from his or her family for their own safety due to abuse or neglect.
- Who can become foster carers?
All kinds of people can become carers as long as they have what it takes to care for children who are not their own. They need to be at least 21 years old although there is no upper age limit. Foster carers can be single, married, with or without children but ideally we would like carers who are healthy and do not smoke. It doesn’t matter if you are in or out of paid work at the moment, or own or rent a house. You must have spare bedroom to accommodate each child. Children benefit from living with families who have a similar background, culture, language, religion and general lifestyle, therefore people of all ethnic origins, ages and geographic locations are needed and welcome to apply to be a foster carer.
- What do foster carers do?
Being a foster carer involves more than just looking after a child. As well as the day-to-day care of the child, you will be asked to attend meetings about those in your care, keep written records, promote contact with birth families and manage information that is confidential and sensitive. You may have to help children come to terms with difficult or traumatic experiences. You will need to ensure that you do all you can to support them in their education, whilst also looking after their health and promoting their social wellbeing.
- Will I have support as a foster carer?
Once approved Care Visions provide full comprehensive training for all our carers. You will be allocated a social worker who provides you with individual supervision. You will also have access to additional 24 hour support from a skilled social work team. Care Visions is committed to offering comprehensive and personalised support to our foster carers and this involves our new carers having access to a regular foster care support group. We also operate a ‘buddying’ scheme which partners all new carers with an experienced carer. We take the views of foster carers very seriously and you will be involved and informed about service developments. As many children entering foster care have suffered an emotionally distressing experiences they may need help from therapists, counselors or children’s support workers but this would be arranged as part of the care plan for each child and discussed with you.
- What will I have to do about other elements of the child’s care?
The child or young person that is placed with you will have their own social worker who will work closely with them and their family. They will visit the child on a regular basis to discuss any problems or issues that have arisen and to check the child is healthy and happy. As a foster carer you will have a lot of contact with a child’s social worker and it is important that you let them know if you have any anxieties about the child you are fostering, or about the plans for them. You will also be expected to develop a close relationship with the teachers at the child’s school to ensure the staff are aware of the child’s circumstances and that the child is receiving all of the support required for their education. Carers will have to ensure that the child or young person is registered with a GP, optician and dentist.
- Do children and young people have contact with their own families?
Contact with their own family is very important to children and young people in foster care and, as a foster carer, you will need to help maintain this if it is felt to be appropriate. This is important, regardless of any personal feelings you may have about the child's parents. Contact can be direct (face-to-face) or indirect (telephone, email or letters). Carers often find themselves working closely with the parents or other relatives. They may come to visit the child at home or the carer may take the child to meet with them at a place arranged by the social worker. All our carers will be provided with training and support in relation to contact with birth parents and significant family members.
- I have a police record - can I still be considered for becoming a foster carer?
To protect children from harm there are some offences that would prevent people from fostering. If you are concerned about a criminal record you should discuss this at the earliest opportunity. If you have ever been convicted of a sexual offence or a violent act towards a child you will not be able to foster.
- Do foster carers get paid?
Yes foster carers are paid. They are paid a professional fee, and an outline of our current fees, associated expenses and allowances is included in the information sent to you. You will also receive an allowance for children’s daily living needs. It is usually essential to have one carer at home full-time to ensure availability for children. All foster carers get paid allowances to ensure that they can provide adequately for the child’s day-to-day needs. Carers will also get advice about insurance and membership of Fostering Network.
- What do I do if I want to foster with Care Visions?
If you are interested in fostering, either as a new or experienced foster carer, Care Visions Fostering is keen to hear from you. We actively recruit a variety of carers to offer as much placement choice as possible to children and young people. Apply now - click here to start the assessment process.
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Still got a question – call us on t: 01786 447 368 or e: fostering@carevisions.co.uk
