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Foster Carers provide care and nurturing for young babies
and under two year olds, often preparing for a child to be moved on
to be adopted or enable them to return to the family
home.
Fostering a very young child is rewarding as carers can visibly
see the child thrive and develop in their care. Equally, this type
of care can prove demanding as the young child may have medical
issues which may involve intense support, during day and night. As
a carer you need to have both the physical and emotional capacity
to manage this type of 24 hour, 1 to 1 care and consider how this
may impact upon your own family.
You will need special qualities to enable you to work closely
with birth parents providing regular contact arrangements (often in
your own home) or if supervised, transport the child to and from
sessions at a family centre.
Carers also host introduction meetings between the child and the
prospective adoptive parents (again in your home). Sensitivity and
caring skills are essential to ensure that these are positive
experiences for both the young child and the parents. Foster carers
are responsible for taking and collecting the child for contact
arrangements, meetings and medical visits so transport is also a
consideration and carers need to be flexible in terms of
availability.
Training will be provided as it is important that you and your
family are able to cope with your own sense of loss when the time
comes for the child to move on. As a carer you will require a
professional approach and a sensitive manner to ensure successful
outcomes for all those involved with moving a child on to the next
phase of their life.
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