The Children in Foster Care
Fostered children need to be given care, love, stability and the chance to understand what has happened to them. They need help to understand the plans made for them so that they can look forward to the future with some confidence. All of them need reassurance and consistent routines to help them feel safe. Most don’t want new parents, they just need to be with adults who care for them and can help them feel wanted and secure.
- Angus carer
Sometimes older children can be very angry at parents and they may need a lot of support to rebuild their relationship and to re-establish regular contact. The level of contact children have with their family is often determined by the Children’s Hearing and may have to be supervised by social work staff. In these circumstances you will be expected to support the child to manage the contact with their parent and protect them from unplanned or unsupervised contact.
Many young people have significant emotional and behavioural difficulties as a result of experiences they have had in their lives. For some, the problems are made worse by the use of drugs or alcohol which can lead them into risky and vulnerable situations. Some of these young people find it difficult to build and maintain positive, trusting relationships with adults. They may have difficult and challenging behaviour or find it hard to show affection, stick to house rules, or to do well in school. These young people need carers who are able to commit to them and manage their challenging behaviour. By providing the child with clear boundaries, consistent support and guidance and a sense that they are wanted and cared for, the carers will gradually help the child to feel safe and secure. Many carers find that sticking with a child through the difficult times and seeing them gradually develop a positive feeling about themselves is one of the most rewarding things about fostering.