They say it takes a village to raise a child, and that’s never more true than when it comes to fostering. The support you receive along the way can make all the difference, both for your fostering experience and for the children in your care. Having local support that you can rely on is key to giving you the tools you need to do an outstanding job.
We’re going to take a closer look at why local support is so important for fostering and how it makes your job as a foster parent easier. Here at Fostering People, we feel that getting support for every step of your fostering journey is important for both you and the child that you foster.
The benefits of local support
Support is there when you need it
The biggest benefit of local support is that it’ll be there for you when you need it most. For some people, it’s harder to get immediate support from larger agencies. If it means the difference between a young person in your care thriving and struggling, having that support to hand in a crisis is immeasurable.
You won’t feel like you’re on your own
A lack of support from your agency can often make you feel like you have to struggle through on your own.
Plus, it won’t just be you who suffers – it’ll also be the young people in your care who need that extra helping hand. Local support ensures that you and your young person have the help you need when you need it most.
You can build strong networks that you can rely on
Building strong networks that you can rely on throughout your fostering journey is another fantastic benefit of local support. Having social workers and other childcare professionals right on your doorstep means that you know they’ll be there to give a helping hand should you need them. This reliability will make your fostering experience smoother and ensure that you can do a fantastic job with the children in your care.
In person events for all the family
Another fantastic way to build strong networks is through meeting like-minded foster parents in your local area. Local agencies such as Fostering People put on fun events for all the family so that you can do just that – meet other foster parents like you who you can build relationships with and get to know better.
You can benefit from a more personalised approach
Having the local support you need means that you can benefit from a more personalised approach. Your dedicated supervising social worker will know you and the young people in your care personally, so you won’t ever feel like you’re speaking to a stranger.
What support do foster carers get?
The support for foster carers differs depending on the fostering agency you’re with. If you’re with a bigger agency, chances are that you rarely speak to the same person twice, or sometimes have to re-explain any issues or concerns you have because of the massive case loads that social workers have to deal with.
At Fostering People, we’re dedicated to making fostering easier with local support. We’re passionate about building strong local networks of support so that you get the help you need when you need it most, and our social workers live and work within the communities that they serve. Plus, we’ve been rated as Outstanding by Ofsted across all areas of our organisation, so you know you’re in safe hands.
Alongside your dedicated supervising social worker, you’ll also get the chance to join local support groups and family events where you can connect with other foster parents in your area.
Other support offered by Fostering People includes:
- A 24/7 helpline to give you round the clock support
- Dedicated professional teams, including social workers and other professionals
- A dedicated support group for new foster parents
- Respite care to give you a break from the challenges of fostering
- Events for families and children
- Membership of Foster Talk
What local help is available for foster carers?
As we’ve briefly mentioned above, all of our social workers live and work in the same communities as our foster parents. This means that you’ll get quick access to the support you need, and because they know the area so well, they can easily point you towards extra resources for your foster child.
At Fostering People we don’t rely on an office base. We’ll use local community venues near you for any support groups and face-to-face training we offer. We’ll choose these venues together with our foster parents so that they’re easy for everyone to get to.
It’s important to remember that you’re never alone in fostering. Community support will be vital for foster carers to do an outstanding job and really make a difference in a child’s life.
What do our foster parents have to say about the support from Fostering People?
Still wondering why you should foster with us? Don’t just take our word for it – take a look at what some of our foster parents had to say about the support Fostering People give our foster carers. You can find more foster carer stories on our website.
Katie’s story
Katie spoke about when she was first thinking about fostering, and the support she’s had since starting her fostering journey: “I spoke to someone I worked with at the time; she was a clinical psychologist and sat on fostering panels. She told me to choose an independent agency because you get more support, and to check their Ofsted rating. When I looked, Fostering People were rated Outstanding by Ofsted three times in a row, and when I spoke to them, I knew they’d be the best fit for us.”
“The beauty of fostering with Fostering People is that there’s so much support. No matter what you’re going through, that network is vital. So early in the journey, get in there – meet people, befriend people. Sometimes, you’ll mess up, and other foster parents will remind you that we’re all parents, we’re human, it’s fine. That kind of support is very reassuring.”
Harriet and David’s story
Harriet and David said: “We have been very fortunate with Fostering People, we have had a great social worker, and she has been with us the whole way through. She did our assessment and now is our supervising social worker. That support and continuity has been amazing for us as foster parents getting back into it.”
Steve’s story
Steve believes it’s the support he’s received that has made all the difference: “As well as having a network of family and friends, we have really great, strong support from our agency, Fostering People across the board, and I can’t speak highly enough of our Supervising Social Worker who has always been there for us.”
Thinking about fostering?
Are you considering fostering in your local area with Fostering People? We’re here to help you through every step of your fostering journey. Get in touch with us today by phoning 0800 077 8159 or by filling out an enquiry form on our website, and one of our friendly team members will get back to you and talk to you in more detail about fostering and what this could mean for you and your family.
If you want an unforgettable fostering journey with local fostering support, Fostering People can give you the emotional and community support that you need.
