Before starting any new job, it is good to get to know the facts and the truths. Choosing to become a foster carer is no different, and there are a fair few things that anyone in this position will need to know when they begin to explore the process. So, whether you are at the very start of the journey or you’re about to meet your first foster child, check out the advice below.
The Process
The process of starting the fostering journey is quite straightforward, as long as you meet certain eligibility criteria such as having a spare bedroom and being at least 21 years old. Certain things on an application will call for an immediate rejection such as past domestic violence charges or any form of assault on your record. After the basics are taken care of, there will be interviews and conversations about the why and the how, and if you make it through these steps, it will be onto the training. Get to know how to become a foster carer from an official source like this one, fcascotland.co.uk to rule out all the misinformation that could be circling about.
The Types of Fostering
It’s also helpful to get to know the different types of fostering that you might be able to do. For example, there are at least five core categories of placement:
- Long term care
- Short term care
- Respite Fostering
- Special Needs Placement
- Therapeutic Placements
Any of these can be cross categorised and interlaced depending on your training and area of expertise plus preference.
The Time Requirements
Fostering is a full-time job. There are respite options that can be booked in advance, but generally, when you accept a foster child, you are with them just like you would be any other child in the house. There may be things like birth contact family to factor in, school runs across town for continuity purposes, and other commitments too.
How to Prepare Your House
So, what needs to happen to your house before the first foster child arrives? Well, they will absolutely need a bedroom to be up and running for them to get straight into. You will also need to have a house filled with food and all the basics like towels, laundry detergent, toilet rolls, and other useful toiletries. The last thing any carer needs is to be dashing out to the shop after their new foster child moves in, so make sure all of this stuff is taken care of beforehand.
How to Build a Support Network
You are bound to meet other carers as you get further into the profession. The more children you foster, the wider your professional circle becomes, and these connections, budding friendships, and ties and invaluable. Having a circle of support that is able to completely empathise on an authentic level will help on the hard days and is someone to share the good days with too.
Anyone getting ready to foster has to understand what they’ll be tackling as they move along. Finding connections to other caring families is great, and going in with an open mind is always helpful.
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