Foster Care Fortnight - it's time to care

14 May 2012

As national figures reveal that a child comes into care every 22 minutes, needing a foster family, could you change a child’s life by becoming a foster carer?

As Foster Care Fortnight (14 to 27 May) begins, the Fostering Network revealed this ‘alarming figure’ to raise awareness of its annual campaign and to raise the profile of fostering. Kent County Council is backing the campaign and calling on people to find out more about this challenging, yet rewarding role.

Charlotte Hampton has been a KCC foster carer for nine months. She’s keen to dispel some of the myths that exist and encourage people who have been thinking about fostering to take the first step. She said: “It has been the most challenging and most rewarding nine months I could ever have asked for. It’s everything I wished it would be and more.

“I always thought this was something I was going to do. I just never thought the timing was right. I had an idea that you needed to have had your family, you needed to be settled, you needed to married, your children needed to be grown up and you needed to have life experience behind you in order to become a foster carer. So I assumed until I’d ticked all those boxes I wouldn’t be able to do it.

“Somebody told me that wasn’t the case and that I should go and find out about it. I went to an information evening and from there went to the next stage. At some point I thought someone will say you’ve discounted yourself and actually that never happened. I kept going and going and before I knew it I was at the approval point and they were saying: ‘Welcome to the team’.

“The biggest thing for me was that it was a two-way process from start to finish. You’re not trying to win a career, it’s not like a normal interview. There are as many spaces as there are appropriate carers and as many children looking for people to help them. They need as many different people with different experiences so they can match them. There is no stereotype for what a foster carer should be.

“The application involves having some very sensitive discussions. They’re asking you about yourself, about your life and what you would like to offer. They are trying to find out as much as they can about you, to find out if you are suitable. In some respects it is intrusive but actually you don’t mind that.

“You learn very quickly the reasons why they’re asking the questions and you understand very quickly what the need is for that. And once you know, you’re willing to offer it. If it means the child gets the best opportunity of being matched with the right person that kind of information is essential.

“If you’ve thought about being a foster carer, pick up the phone and speak to the initial enquiries team. Somebody will come and visit you at home and have a really informal discussion with you. It’s a lengthy discussion but it’s not designed to be an interview – it’s just a conversation. It’s really invaluable that you make that first step and find out if it’s right for you. It really could be.”

Find out more about fostering

Foster care is provided for children or young people who are unable to live with their parents for a variety of reasons. Placements can be for a night or longer term while work is done to return them to their family, be that parents or close relatives, or they are considered for adoption. There are also specialist fostering schemes to support children and young people with complex needs.

There are two fostering information sessions during the fortnight:

• Thursday 17 May at The Bay Point Club (previously Pfizers Sports & Social Club), Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, CT13 9QL
• Wednesday 23 May at St Teresa’s Church Hall, Maidstone Road, Ashford, TN24 8TX

The events will help anyone interested in caring for a child or children who are unable to live with their parents for a variety of reasons, decide whether it is right for them. The presentation about fostering starts at 7pm, with details of how to get started and all the help and support that is available. Afterwards, there is an opportunity to speak to foster carers about their experiences.

KCC Cabinet Member for Specialist Children’s Services, Jenny Whittle, said: “It’s time to care, so if you’ve thought about fostering, please call 0845 330 2968. You have the opportunity to make such a difference to a child’s life. KCC has a lot to offer its foster carers – there are generous allowances, high quality support and training –
and also respite to give carers time off.

“The support offered by the county council is unrivalled and I want to make sure everyone who is considering fostering makes KCC their first port of call. In the past year, we recruited more than 127 carers and have set a target of 140 in the next 12 months. There are areas where new carers are needed most, particularly Ashford, Canterbury, Dover and Maidstone – but interest is welcome and needed from all parts of the county.”