Fostering questions and answers
Nearly 8,000 foster carers are needed throughout the UK. The
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, like many local
authorities, needs foster carers to help care for children who are
currently living in the borough.
The Fostering Team based at the Westway Information Centre are
responsible for recruiting new foster carers and making
arrangements for children to go and live with them.
What is a foster carer?
As a foster carer you will look after children and young people
in your own home when their parents are unable to do so. This may
be for a variety of reasons including hospitalisation of a parent
through to more serious cases of neglect or abuse. Foster care may
last for a short time, such as an overnight stay, or for longer
periods of time, such as two years or more, until a permanent new
family is found.
Who can be a foster carer?
Anyone can apply to be a foster carer as no formal
qualifications are required. We need carers from a range of ethnic
backgrounds and religions to meet the needs of our diverse
community. It does not matter whether you have your own children or
not, whether you are married or if you own your own property. You
will need space in your home for a foster child, patience and a
genuine commitment to children and a willingness to work with the
child's family and professionals.
Foster carers for Kensington and Chelsea don't need to live in
the borough but need to be local enough to bring children to school
and where possible maintain family and community ties. You will be
provided with training and support and will be paid an allowance
for the costs of caring for each child and a fee for the work
involved in being a carer.
Foster care in the UK
Local Authorities already have a large pool of highly-skilled
and well-trained foster carers from a wide range of backgrounds,
but according to a new survey conducted with 19 local authorities
by the national charity the Fostering Network, nearly 8,000 are
still needed throughout the United Kingdom.
Fostering is viewed as both a caring and a professional
undertaking. Prospective foster carers are recruited and assessed
by Social Workers in the Fostering Team who also provide a support
and supervisory role once carers are approved. Carers may take a
National Vocational Qualification to show their skills and
abilities in this field.
How do I become a foster carer?
The first step is to contact us and tell us a bit about your
interest in becoming a carer. We can give you more information and
an application form. Once we receive the application form we can
come to visit you in your home to meet you for a more personal
discussion and answer any questions you may have.
If it is agreed that we would proceed with your application then
we undertake a 'home study' and offer you the chance to attend a
preparation group for new foster carers. This helps you find out
more about what fostering involves and gives you the chance to talk
to other approved and prospective foster carers. During the
'home-study' we will talk with you about the sorts of children you
would be most suited to care for and any particular support you
might need to do so. On completion of this you would be approved as
a foster carer and foster children would start to be placed with
you.
To find out more about fostering in The Royal Borough of Kensington
and Chelsea please telephone 020 7598 4499 and ask for the
Fostering Duty Officer or call free on 0800 183 2400.