Becoming a foster parent

[jjwander]

Hi everyone,

My DH and I are thinking about becoming foster parents. I wanted to get some advice from people who have fostered before and get their thoughts on the whole process, what we should expect and if there is anything that we can do to make sure we are ready! I have also heard many differing views on whether to go through a local authority or an independent agency, what do people think? Is one better then the other? Any advice would be really appreciated!!!

see thread below "Local Authority or agency"

Thank you! @f0stercarer have you got any personal advice you can give?

Generally speaking, when kids come into care they are in the care of the Local Authority so it makes sense for the LA to house them with their own foster carers whenever possible. If this is not possible then they will turn to an agency, which is very expensive for the LA. It might not be possible to use LA carers if they have run out of available carers and no LA carer has a space or if it’s a large sibling group that they want to keep together and there’s no LA carer with enough room or if it’s a child with difficult behaviour who has been passed around a few LA carers and no one available is willing (or able if they have other children in the house this child might be a danger to) to take them.

Unless there’s been an absolute influx of babies an agency carer would be very unlikely to ever be given a baby as there are so many LA carers willing to take a baby. Most carers I’ve known from agencies have had sibling groups of 3 children or a child who has had to be removed with immediate effect from a previous, LA carer.

fosterwiki.com/wiki/so-you-want-tobe-a-foster-carer/?fbclid=IwAR1fdIH3EQSDEpyTKlxTL9KG_HG1IwRXBQzd9GfIVXFrUtDeePw-NPIygtE