Fostering dos and don’ts

[Olslea]

Hello

This is my first post, I’m still in the early stages of thinking about short-medium term fostering. I’ve looked through lots of threads on here which have been really helpful but I have a few questions still that I’m hoping some experienced foster carers can answer...

Can you take your foster child to visit friends/relatives in their home?
Can you take them on trips in the UK?
Can they go to their friends house after school and attend clubs?
How much notice do you usually get that a child you’re looking after will be moving on?
If you are approved for a wide age range, would you be supported to provide necessities for a baby (crib, car seat etc) if you have previously had a school aged child?

Thanks to anyone who can answer! :)

Hello!

My family has been fostering for 6 years now so I hope I can be some help :)

Yes, you can take you fc to visit family and friends, obviously only do this when the child is comfortable with you as you don't want to overwhelm them - meeting new people can be very tricky for foster children.

You can take them on holidays but this depends on each individual child and their situation as this would affect the contact that they are having with their biological family (if it is appropriate for them to have this). You may be more successful with this with longer term placements as if you only have a child short-term there may not be any point/need for a holiday. Sometimes, holidays with fc is more hassle than it's worth!

I'd reccomend to begin with only having fc around your own home. If you know your fc's friends family well then maybe after school but definitely wouldn't say sleepovers but again this depends on the child. Also, they may not be DBS checked so you've got to be really careful. They can definitely attend clubs though. Speak to your SSW as deppending on the authority/agency you are with you may be able to recieve funding for this.

For notice, you never really know! We've been told that a child was going to be leaving us about 6 times before they actually did. One piece of advice I'd give you is to take dates with a pinch of salt. I've never fostered a child or know of any foster child who has moved on on the inital date that was set for them - the placements usually end up being longer than planned.

You are generally expected to pay for the necessities no matter how old the child is. However, this will vary by authority so check with your SSW. We've bought nearly everything second-hand (FB Marketplace has been our lifesaver!). If your quick, people often give away lots of items (especially baby releated!) but as they're free they go like hot cakes - sometimes within the minuite! We've been given lots of free clothes which has been a lifesaver as they just grow out of them so quickly!

Good luck and I hope this helps - fostering is the most rewarding thing we've ever done

Thank you so much for your reply, it has been really helpful and given me lots to think about

My tips are to consider very carefully which agency you work for.

And keep proper records and receipts for your tax return so you don’t end up struggling to find it all in mid January.

Hi OP, I’m not a foster but used to work as a placement coordinator, so making contact with carers to organise the placement of children with them. Much as well-planned placements are the ideal, you will probably be approached to accommodate children on the same day from time to time, so if you’re looking to take babies you will need to have the equipment ready. Hope that is helpful and wishing you all the best as a foster carer

*not a foster carer

@IND1A

My tips are to consider very carefully which agency you work for.

And keep proper records and receipts for your tax return so you don’t end up struggling to find it all in mid January.

I have never met a foster carer who has chosen to go the route of keeping receipts and doing their tax calculation that way rather than just take the allowances offered by HMRC. It would be highly unusual to be better off going this highly burdensome route.

I must be unusual then. Because my costs came to more than my fees + allowances and I got tax back.

But it was just a suggestion. Whatever works for you.

Can you take your foster child to visit friends/relatives in their home?
Yes you can, obviously you have to know and trust them but this is not a problem.

Can you take them on trips in the UK?
Hi you have to get permission from the child's social worker but generally it's allowed, we have even taken children abroad with us!

Can they go to their friends house after school and attend clubs?
This one is difficult in terms of friends, if there is the possibility of the parents knowing and turning up it wouldn't be advisable. After school clubs are usually fine.

How much notice do you usually get that a child you’re looking after will be moving on?
It's usually a few weeks if adoption or moving to long term. If it's decided they can return home this can vary to a few hours to a couple of weeks.

If you are approved for a wide age range, would you be supported to provide necessities for a baby (crib, car seat etc) if you have previously had a school aged child?
Our LA have a store cupboard, if anything you need isn't there they will reimburse you for buying stuff but this remains the property of social services.