The Factors that make ideal Foster Care Homes UK

There are many facts essential when it comes to discussing provisioning foster care in any shape or way. But, nobody can deny the importance of having Foster Care Homes UK since they are the starting point of a child’s life in terms of having something normal at last. Homes are protective, they are comfortable, and these children have already seen the unfortunate and the cruel side of life. Therefore, under discussion from the entire case, it’s imperative to note that there is a need for a deeper look into how these foster homes must ideally be. 

Mainly, the focus targets the features or factors of what makes it appropriate and truly affirmative for a child to live in for a long time.

It has space

It’s safe to say that children could come from severe poverty and must have seen the really poor side of city life, especially the homes that poor people occupy. They are, in every way, quite small, uncomfortable and unhealthy places by nature. So, when a child goes into foster care, he/ she must have an adequate amount of space within their new home. By all means, a welcome change is required, and even though there could be some time needed for adjusting, it’s the best option for the sake of their health and growth.

A lot of options for activities

Children in Foster Care Homes UK needs to be as active as possible. There are fairly a good number of reasons for that. You see their experiences are mostly involving something unfavorable, but it’s also not right if you let them devolve into a state where they are constantly thinking about their past and nothing else. Activities can be a part of the learning experience, something that is inimitably valuable to any child out there. So, engagement is necessary, and it must reflect quite positively across the board.

Have a Provision for Privacy

Conversely, you need to respect the needs of the child in your care, especially when he/she may want to be alone. There are instances where it’s better to face one’s thoughts alone, and it’s something that you will be thankful for in the long run. However, the most essential consideration must focus on provisioning a room that has all the requirements. It must be for a child, and it should have a bed, playthings, books for studying, as well as anything of interest that the child is seemingly focusing upon positively. In every sense, there needs to be a highlight on Foster Care Homes UK as they are instrumental in providing long term benefits for any child out there.  

Greater London Fostering Tips that you Should Know

Under every circumstance, fostering is known to be a challenge for care providers at large. There are some variables that just don’t add up, and by the result, it causes much suffering and problems for the child.

After all, the entire subject of a fostering service is to ensure that the child in concern has, at the very least, a veritable good chance at life. However, not working out properly is seemingly the normal thing in life, and it does affect everyone involved in a multitude of damaging perspectives.

That’s why here are some notable things you should follow as the most appropriate Greater London Fostering.

Not getting too attached to expectations
This happens in the case when a child has biological parents too. There’s no denying the fact that attaching expectations to a child is just plain wrong, as it’s just a calling card for future problems waiting to happen.

Moreover, foster children apparently have gone through a lot. They’re not always going to be cheerful, or follow your every advice. Therefore, you must set realistic goals about what ‘you’ can do for the child in question.

After all, your promises come first, and your job is to ensure that the child in question gets the best possible chance at living a healthy and fulfilling life in whatever way he/she wishes for.

Making the Child feel at home
Under every consideration, Greater London Fostering specifically focuses upon how to help a child achieve normalcy in every facet of his/her life.

It all starts with the home, which is an unfamiliar environment for most of them. So, you need to treat the child a bit differently, especially if he/she has grown up even if to a little extent.

You must establish a normal line of communication, and must absolutely try not to dig up their past under any circumstance.

Finding a Therapist
You need to recognize that suffering for a child is not just at a physical level. Some deep-seated issues in their past can lead to an unsolicited state of emotional and mental health. 

As a result, you verily need to get him/her to a therapist and try to properly cure their state over time. It’s better when a specialist has a job, and it can result in a lot of positive outcomes.

Again, don’t go to provide therapy by yourself!
These are some essential tips that you must keep in mind if you’re providing Greater London Fostering Care for a child. It’s important to remember that achieving normalcy in life with the child is the goal, and you must find to maintain it properly afterward.

Why Fostering as a Career

Firstly, it is a rewarding career – it requires someone special to take on a child or young person (or even a few at once), sometimes with physical or behavioral issues – and take care of all their needs.

Succeeding at that task is a very satisfying feeling, even when it feels like progress is slow. If you are a parent of older children you have the chance once again to pass on your wisdom and experience and transform the life of a child in need.

It is estimated that there are 60,000 children and young people in the care of Local Authorities at any one time in the UK. The total number of children and young people who are not being looked after by their original parents is approx 300,000, and this is increasing each year. About 65% are in foster homes, the rest are living with foster families, other relatives or friends.

Therefore there is a national shortage of foster parents. So if you develop your foster parenting abilities and experience you will always be in demand. Possibly up to 10,000 more foster carers are needed to take on the role/career to ensure that children who need fostering have the opportunity to benefit from living in a safe, stable, and nurturing the family environment.

Foster Carers don’t have to have any particular qualifications, but having experience of caring for or working with children or young people really does help, and there are NVQ’s which it is recommended you study for.

Making a positive difference in the life and well-being of a child or young person is both rewarding and challenging.

As a new foster carer, you won’t be left alone to figure it all out – foster parents work in partnership with others who are involved in the child’s life; this includes – the maternal parents, other family members, Social Workers, health workers, teachers and fostering agency professionals.

Before embarking on a career in fostering it is important to take the time to research and then discuss the possibilities with your own family (spouse and siblings) so that you can make an informed choice and for the right reasons. Read more

You will be self-employed, but with only a few exceptions at high levels of income will you need to pay income tax on your earnings – as there is a special exemption for Foster career income. For taxation information see HMRC, call them and/or an Accountant. For welfare benefits, advice talk to your local benefits office – as in most cases fostering income does not affect entitlement to benefits if you need them. See fostering on DirectGov and also categories of foster care.

We are here to help – just give us a call and we’ll guide you through each step of the way. We look forward to hearing from you.

How to Foster a Child or Young Person

Foster carers are ordinary people performing extraordinary tasks – caring for other people’s children – for whatever reason can no longer stay with their original parents. It can be challenging, but it can also be rewarding in many ways.

We need many more foster parents from all kinds of ethnic groups and backgrounds, with different life experiences; couples and singles, young and old – to look after babies, children, and teenagers from 0 to 18 years. We will provide beginners with all the help they need to develop their career as a foster parent, and they are paid in fees and allowances for their efforts – in most cases it's all tax-free too.

From your first contact, you will find us to be friendly, supportive and helpful. Just give us a call and either pop in for a chat and an application or we will post you an application pack and guide. Find out more about fostering a child with Horizon – a leading London Fostering Agency – established over 12 years ago and employing a highly experienced team of social care and fostering professionals.

Common Myths About Foster Care Adoption

There are hundreds and thousands of children in the foster care system, and misconceptions about foster care, prevent a lot of competent foster parent aspirants. Foster care adoption is often misunderstood, and this results in some innocent children never finding a permanent home or a loving family. Here are common myths about foster care adoption

1.    Children in a foster home are their for the juvenile delinquency

Most of people believe that children in the foster home end up because of their juvenile delinquency. The kids in a foster home are because they are troublemakers or too bad to deserve a home. In reality, the children end up in the foster home because of neglect or parental abuse and not because of a fault of their own. Many children might have special needs and require extra support, but good foster care agencies provide the necessary resources to the foster parents and equip them with guidance and right tools. All children need consistent care, which means going beyond to ensure their well-being and growth.

2.    Adoptive parents need to be married, heterosexual and stay-at-home parents

Each family is different, and people from all backgrounds can foster kids. You don’t necessarily need to own home or already have children or be wealthy. To foster the child, you need to be loving and willing to meet the challenges of parenting. Foster parents can continue to work a full-time job and make use of the childcare options. It is no different from caring for your biological child. All that is needed to foster a child is an open heart. The only thing that is a necessity is that you have a spare room for the child.

3.    Adoptive parents should be less than 50 years of age

There is no perfect age to be foster parents. A study shows than one in four foster children live with parents who are more than 55 years of age. All that matters is the willingness to pledge to parenthood.

4.    Biological parents can reclaim the children

Most people considering fostering believe that biological parents can regain custody post-adoption. But the truth is that biological parents have no way to regain custody of the child once their parental rights are terminated. Foster parents have the same responsibilities and rights as biological parents. It means that the foster children have the social, emotional, familial, and legal benefits of biological children.

5.    It is expensive to foster a child

Foster parents are not expected to foot the entire bill of the children in their care. Daily payment is designed to cover the basic need of every child. The amount received depends on the level of needs and the age of the child. Children in foster homes are generally insured, and thus, the adoptive parents need not pay for their health care.

6.    It is challenging to become foster parents

Typically to become the foster carer will take roughly eight months, and it involves a series of assessments ad visits with social workers before the final interview with the panel is scheduled. This journey is crucial as it gives you time to reflect on what it will mean to become a foster parent and also provide you with time to ask important questions.

Things To Look for when choosing the Foster Care Agency

With more than 700 independent fostering agencies and trusts offering fostering services, choosing the foster care agency is a tough decision. The significance of sound foster care agency can’t be overemphasized. It is time-consuming but worth it. Here are six things to look for when choosing a foster care agency:

1. Responsiveness: As foster parents, you will need to contact the agency several times. The agency should respond quickly and offer the required support whenever necessary. The best way to know this by assessing how they react before you join. When you make a call at their office, do they respond timely or you end up in an endless loop of voicemail with people taking several days to get back to you. The agency that treats you like this, in the beginning, will not be any different after you sign the contract. So, avoid selecting such agencies.

2. Personal attention: When you first get in touch with the agency, how much individual attention do you get? Does the foster care agency invite you for a one-to-one session with a counselor, or do they heard you into group orientations? You will have several questions to ask; therefore, you need time to ask them. If the organization can’t give you a few hours up front to know you how can you expect them to make the proper placement of children in your home in times to come.

3. Agency tour: All foster homes look good on brochures and online websites. But remember there is no substitute for taking a personal trip of the organization. Ensure that the place is welcoming and clean, has adequate staff, and offer support groups. Take a walk through their facility to know how the organization works.

4. Opportunities and programs for children: For overall development of the child, it is critical to have not only a loving foster family but also a supportive community. The community should allow families to connect with other children and learn alongside them. It is better to look for a foster home that has year-round activities and celebrations so that everyone feels like one large family. Foster parents get the chance to connect with children and other foster parents as well.

5. On-site childcare: Proper foster care should have a lot of classes and support groups. While you are participating in the sessions, the kids can participate in fun activities. Also, check what kind of assistance is offered by the organization.

6. Supportive community: The foster home should provide the necessary support and encouragement. Check if they have dedicated home supervisors to help you throughout the process. Also, ask do they offer opportunities for foster parents to get together and share their experiences.

In the end, remember every agency is different; you need to choose the one that suits your needs. Decide whether you prefer a community-oriented agency or education opportunities oriented. It is best to look for the agency that reflects your intentions to ensure a smoother experience.