Q. Who can apply to be a foster parent? Do you already have to have a family and a big house? I am single, live in a good-sized two bedroom flat and have a decent job. Would I be considered?
Jenny, St. Albans A. All sorts of people apply to be foster carers and people of all ages, races, religions and cultures are foster carers in Hertfordshire. Foster carers can be single, married or living together, in a partnership, with or without children of their own, in their twenties, or in retirement. Foster carers can be disabled, working or at home. The important thing is what they can offer. Obviously, we have to safeguard the children in our care, so it is not possible for people who have committed offences against children or some other serious offences to become foster carers.
All applicants have an enhanced CRB check (police checks) Applicants also have medical checks.
So the answer to your question is yes! You certainly would be considered. Q. What sort of training and support do foster carers get? It is something that I would love to do but I don't think that I could go in 'cold'.
Peter, Hertford A. All people who apply to become foster carers in Hertfordshire attend a training course, called 'Skills to Foster'. This is a nationally recognised course which consists of six or seven sessions, held in the evenings or at weekends. It covers all the basics
that potential carers need to know, including working with children and young people, working with the child's family, working as part of a team
with social workers and other professionals, and how fostering will affect your family. Carers then undertake an assessment before becoming approved as foster carers. All foster carers have supervising social workers who support them. Local fostering teams offer foster carers lots of support. There are also support groups, a local foster care association, and membership of the national foster carers association, called Fostering
Network. We offer lots of ongoing training for carers, including first aid training, managing difficult behaviour, and an NVQ in Childcare. We are very committed to giving carers all the training and support they need. So don't worry, you won't be going in 'cold', we are there to
support you. Q. I am considering applying to be a foster parent. I already have two children of my own in their early teens and am slightly concerned about the effect on them. Is there any counselling available for natural children or somebody to explain what is happening? What about support groups for them?
Kerry, Luton A. We consider foster carers' children to be very much part of the team. At all stages of your training and assessment, we will include your
children in the process, by talking with them and offering them training and the opportunity to talk with other children and young people whose families already foster. Once you become a foster carer we continue to support all the members of your family. Your supervising social worker is there to support you and your children and yes, we do have support groups for carers' children in most parts of Hertfordshire. Q. Do foster carers have contact with the child's natural family? What happens if the original family try to cause problems?
David, Watford A. Most children placed with foster carers do have contact with their natural families. In fact in most cases children will return to their natural families. So often foster carers do have contact with the parents, brothers and sisters, and even grandparents of the children placed with them. Contact does not happen in a haphazard way. The children's contact with their family will be planned and arranged at times convenient to
everybody. It may be held in the foster carer's home if that is acceptable to everyone, but more often it is held elsewhere in contact centres, or possibly at the parent's or grandparent's home. It is a common anxiety amongst new foster carers that natural families may try to cause trouble, but this doesn't happen very often. If foster carers do experience any problems they have the support and backup of the fostering team and the child's social worker to help them. Q. What sort of financial support do foster carers get?
Nicky, Luton A. In Hertfordshire we pay foster carers an allowance, to cover the costs of the child's needs such as food, clothing and pocket money, in addition to a fee paid to the foster carer. For example, a new foster carers looking after a child under 4 years old, would receive a total of £156-52 per week, whilst a more experienced
carer would receive £185-99. Our fees increase depending on the skill and experience of the carer and the allowance is age related, so a new foster carer looking after a young person aged 16+ would receive £277.34 and a more skilled and experienced carer would receive £306-81. We also pay extra allowances to cover birthdays, Christmas or festival expenses, annual holidays, new school uniforms or expensive activities. The really good news for foster carers is the new tax regulations introduced from April 03. This means that most foster carers won't have to pay tax on their fostering income. Q. What happens when a foster carer is on housing benefit and the council insists that the children's accommodation must be paid for out of their allowance? I am a foster carer who has experienced this problem and am paying for the rooms to accommodate teenagers myself.
D Watt A. I'm afraid that I do not have direct experience of this problem, and it is always difficult to comment on individual cases without all of the
facts. In our experience most people's benefits are not generally affected by fostering. In Hertfordshire our Money Advice Unit is extremely helpful in
ensuring that we give correct and full advice to foster carers who have queries about benefits. The unit can act as advocates for those who need it. The Fostering Network is able also to give expert advice on such matters.
How to find out more about fostering
Fostering procedures are similar across the country but there may be some local variations. For further details, contact your local authority
direct: Hertfordshire County Council - Family Support Bedfordshire County Council - Social Services Buckinghamshire County Council - Care Services Call the Fostering Network on 020 7620 6400 or visit www.fostering.net
| 
