I am a social worker for Foster Care Associates. FCA is UK's largest independent fostering agency providing high quality care for children and young people in a family setting. If you've never thought about fostering before here are three considerations.
Firstly, to be cared for in loving and stable family can make all the difference in the world to a child's life. The children referred to us have been neglected and many have been abused and rejected by their birth families. In my job I see children whose lives have been turned around since they came to the foster family, and who are now flourishing.
Secondly, there is a real shortage of foster carers so we can't help some of the most needy children. In the Thames Valley region we get about 80 referrals of children and young people per month of which we can only place about 10.
Thirdly, FCA is an excellent organisation to work for. Foster carers open their hearts and homes to some of our most deprived and challenging children and young people and FCA provides them with the support they need: round the clock advice, regular supervision, training courses, support groups and a good level of pay. There is help available from therapists, education specialists, and resource workers.
If you want to find out more please ring FCA on 0800 0852225 or 01296 628300.
Jeanie Honey is the wife of the vicar of Holy Trinity, Headington Quarry.
I noted with interest the article from Jeanie Honey in the April Edition of the DOOR encouraging people to consider fostering a child.
I very much welcome this initiative but would urge people to consider carefully the agency they chose to work with. The field of fostering has become something of a ‘market place’ with many agencies now operating ‘for profit’. Indeed the National Fostercare Associates are one such agency. There are however other agencies which operate not for profit such as our own Diocesan agency Parents and Children Together.
It is regrettable that profit has entered the world of child care and I would encourage those of you thinking about fostering to find out as much as possible about the agency you chose to work with, in particular what level of support you will receive after the child or children are placed with you and whether you will have a dedicated worker. PACT at present is only operating a specialist long term Black Families Fostering project but hopefully in the near future this will be extended to permanent white carers also. PACT has been commended by the Inspectorate for the support it offers carers.
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