Deciding with Fostering as a Career can feel a bit overwhelming at first, but as you read through the various stages of the process you will see that it is a clear path that each stage can be prepared for.
Make an Initial Enquiry
The first step on the road to fostering is to contact a fostering service. At the initial contact stage the foster carer applicant will have an informal chat about their situation, why they wish to become a foster carer and the type of children they think that they and their family would be able to care for.
A useful reference for Foster Care Bridgend is saferfostering.org.uk/foster-care-wales/bridgend.
Check the Basic Eligibility
You do not have to be a homeowner, married or have any children already. However, you must be over 21 years old, have a spare room in your home and go through the necessary background checks. The Welsh Government states in the foster care guidance for Wales that applicants must be assessed as safe and suitable to foster before they can be approved.
Prepare for the Home Study
If your initial contact with Foster Care Bridgend is positive, the social worker will go on to complete your Home Study. This is a detailed assessment of you and your family, which is written up in a Form F. This includes details of your past and present, your relationships, your health, your finances and your home and how it could be used to provide a safe environment for children. The assessment can take several months to complete during which time the social worker will visit you at home on several occasions and speak to people who are close to you.
Complete Your Skills to Foster Training
You will be expected to attend a Skills to Foster training course whilst your assessment is taking place. This training will give you a great insight into the world of fostering and the various aspects of caring for children. This will include child development, managing difficult behaviours, working with the child’s birth families and many more topics to give you an insight into what it is like to care for children on a day to day basis.
Go Before the Fostering Panel
Your assessment is presented at a Foster Panel meeting where it is discussed and a recommendation is made by the panel regarding your approval as a foster carer and the type of fostering that you would be suitable for. The decision regarding your approval is then made by the fostering service.
Wait for Your First Placement
Once you have been approved as a Foster Carer for Foster Care Bridgend, your details will be added to the matching team’s database. You will be contacted by a matching officer who will discuss local children’s needs and try to match you with a child or children who would benefit from living with you. The time frame for your first placement can vary, some placements can occur within a few weeks of approval, others can take a little longer.
From initial contact until approval as a Foster Carer it will take approximately 6-9 months.
