Fostering Teenagers

Teenagers need more UK Foster carers!

Who can foster young people.

There are no particular people who make successful foster carers for teenagers, before fostering they have usually had experience of caring for teenagers, either through raising their own family, or through having contact in other ways, for example through their work.

Teenagers – young people

A significant number of children who need foster carers are young people (or) teenagers, both girls and boys.

Most of these children will have had difficulties at home. They come from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds, including unaccompanied minors, who will need support and help in adjusting to living in a new country.

As we all know, teenage years can be a difficult time, we felt no one understood us and most teenagers felt insecure. Imagine how a young person who cannot live with their family will feel. At this critical time in their lives, they need clear guidance and support, to help them to not get in to bad behaviours and lifestyles.

Teenagers need carers who are reliable, patient and trustworthy, they need to know where they stand. Foster carers need to listen, be someone to talk to and help them to make sense of their worries.

Young people need help to organise their lives, to deal with their feelings and have good times with friends and where possible, stay in touch with their family. Foster carers need to help teens learn good practical skills they’ll need in the future, especially if they move live independently, such as cooking and managing money.

Joe, a UK foster carer

“With patience, time and being a trusting role model, I can get them to think before they do, and help them keep safe and sometimes they say thanks! I think babies and young children are lovely, but I prefer working with moody teenagers than making bottles and changing nappies, that’s the way I am.”

In 2015 38% (26,140) of children in foster placements were aged between 10 and 15 years old, and 22% (15,270) were aged 16 and over were in care and 75% (52,050) of children looked after on 31st March 2015 were living with foster carers.

(www.gov.uk)