Why foster?
Why foster?
Foster carers from all walks of life are needed to make a lasting difference as more vulnerable children enter care each year. Since they cannot live with their birth families, vulnerable children and young people rely on you to create a safe and loving home environment.
Foster care is critical in helping children and young people to develop into independent, well-rounded adults. With our support and assistance, you can provide a safe, thriving environment for children and young people.
People choose to foster for various reasons, including providing a stable and supportive environment for the child, giving back to their community, and learning a new skill. Whatever reason you choose, you will be making a positive impact on a child’s life.
Reasons to foster?
Fostering can be a fantastic way to positively impact the lives of children and young people in need. Here are some reasons why you may want to consider fostering:
Making a difference
Fostering provides a unique opportunity to make a positive impact on the life of a child or young person. By providing them with a safe, stable and loving home, you can help them to feel valued and supported and give them a chance to reach their full potential.
Personal growth
Fostering can be a deeply rewarding experience that offers personal growth and a sense of fulfilment and help you to develop new skills and gain a greater understanding of different cultures and backgrounds.
Support and training
As a foster carer, you will receive support and training from Calon Cymru Fostering. This will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to provide the best possible care for your child or young person.
Financial support
Foster carers receive a fostering allowance to cover the cost of caring for the child or young person and additional support such as respite care and cost of living support.
Opportunity to build relationships
Fostering can allow you to build meaningful relationships with the child or young person in your care, their birth family and other professionals involved in their care.
Overall, fostering can be a highly rewarding experience that offers the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of children and young people in need.
Roles and responsibilities of a foster carer
Foster carers must provide a safe, caring home environment for vulnerable children and young people who cannot live with their birth families. Foster carers must speak up on behalf of the child, support their educational, health, and social well-being, manage sometimes challenging behaviour, keep records, attend meetings, engage with the larger team, and develop their skills.
What makes an excellent foster carer?
Being an excellent foster carer involves a range of personal qualities, skills, and experiences. Here are some of the key traits that make an amazing foster carer...
Patience
Foster carers must be patient and understanding, as the children and young people in their care may have experienced trauma, abuse or neglect, affecting their behaviour and emotional well-being.
Empathy
Foster carers need to be able to put themselves in the shoes of the children and young people in their care and understand their unique needs and experiences.
Flexibility
Foster carers need to adapt to changing circumstances and be willing to work with the child or young person's social worker, birth family, and other professionals involved in their care.
Good communication skills
Foster carers need to communicate effectively with children and young people, their birth families, and other professionals involved in their care.
Ability to provide a stable and nurturing environment
Foster carers need to provide a safe, durable, and nurturing home environment that promotes the child or young person's well-being and development.
Willingness to work as part of a team
Foster carers need to work collaboratively with social workers, birth families, and other professionals involved in the child or young person's care to provide the best possible support.
Resilience
Foster carers need to be able to cope with the emotional demands of fostering, which can involve challenging behaviours, complex family situations, and separation from the child or young person in their care.
Overall, being an excellent foster carer requires a combination of personal qualities, skills and experiences, which allow you to provide a stable, nurturing, and supportive home environment for the child or young person in your care.
Why foster with Calon Cymru Fostering?
No matter how experienced you are, how much of the foster care system you already understand, and which area of fostering you feel you can become a part of, our team at Calon Cymru is dedicated to making this journey one of hope and happiness for both you and a young person who needs you.
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Common questions asked
When it comes to fostering, there is no upper age restriction, age is simply a number. To begin fostering, you must be at least 21 years old.
Yes. We have many single foster carers who have a strong support network of family and friends who provide practical and emotional assistance as needed. When you foster with us, you will never feel alone since the Calon Cymru Fostering team is always available to help you.
You must have a spare room that they will not have to share with another member of your current household in order to foster. Sibling placements may occasionally share a bedroom, although this is determined on a case-by-case basis.
You will receive advice and information from one of our team members during your initial phone contact. When you are ready, you will be assigned a dedicated assessor who will visit you and assist you throughout the process. A referee, medical, and DBS check will be done, and you will be asked to undergo a 'Skills to Foster' training session. The assessment process typically takes 4-6 months.
Do you think you can change the life of a local vulnerable child or young person?
Get in touch today for a casual, friendly chat with our experienced foster advisors.
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