Simply Fostering

Fostering Network of Support

CARERS SUPPORT

The Fostering Agency is the foster parent’s main support, however, every UK carer has to have a wider group of supportive people they can rely on.

The carer’s Agency provides the knowledge to be a safe, skilful and confident carer who provides the best care and enjoys being a foster parent.

All Agencies provide twenty-four-hour support, seven days a week, 365 days per year. However, the quality and reliability of that support varies.  Respite care is a significant part of a carer’s support.

Quality support and supervision.

A quality Fostering Network should include Support Groups when Agencies arrange groups of carers to get together to share experiences and to offer each other friendship and support from likeminded people. Properly organised and run, these groups can be an invaluable resource for a carer.

Some UK Agencies organise specialist support groups such as ‘Men or Women who Foster’ and ‘Children who Foster’ for the birth children of foster carers.

The best Agencies see support groups as invaluable. They are a great forum for allowing Agencies to understand what issues currently concern their foster carers, enabling them to react in the best way. Most Agencies will also have a calendar of social events for foster parents and their looked-after children.

Carer’s supervision is a requirement and provided by the Agency social worker. Supervision sessions should be at least fortnightly and are held at the carer’s home and all of the fostering family should be able to take part or to have their issues aired when practical.

Friends and Family

Supportive friends and family are a big part of a carer’s support group, it ‘s very important that foster parents have trusted people to talk to and who can provide practical support if necessary. Police checked family and close friends can also step in when you need a break.

As part of the assessment, applicants will be required to identify people who will be part of their fostering network, and hopefully adults who would be willing to be backup carers.

Successful fostering

Being a foster carer is one of the most rewarding careers out there, but being with the wrong agency can mean having a weak Fostering Network and not having the number, type of placements, and financial benefits you expected. Contact us and we will find you suitable agencies in your area with vacancies.

Deciding to foster.

Hopefully, you will decide to take the next step and if so, we at Simply Fostering would like to thank you for starting the exciting journey to make a difference and becoming a foster carer.

We are always here as a source of reference about fostering and our free Handbook will help you to ask the right questions and to find answers about foster care in the UK.

UK Wide Fostering Network

Try these: South WestDevonExeter

If you live in the UK… We’ve got you covered.
We cover the length and breadth of the UK with our unique Agency Network. Finding an Agency near you and supporting your move into foster caring.

 

free fostering handbook

Free Fostering Essentials Handbook

By contacting us you are entitled to the Simply Fostering Essentials Handbook, a wall to wall guide to fostering.

An A-Z comprehensive guide to a range of useful fostering terms. Essential reading for any newbie foster carer. Includes subjects as varied as:

  • Parental Responsibility
  • Managing Behaviour
  • Human Rights
  • Reviews
  • Eat Disorders

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The Best Start in Fostering

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