A new campaign to highlight the role that the sons and daughters of foster carers play in making fostering work is being launched today by top charity the Fostering Network.
In a new report published today (Monday 27 October), the Fostering Network says the relationship between foster carers’ own children and those placed into their care can make or break a foster placement. If sons and daughters are not given the right support the placement can break down and lead to children being moved around the care system and families considering whether to continue fostering.
In Fostering Families – supporting sons and daughters of foster carers, the Fostering Network calls on the UK’s governments and local authorities to make a number of important changes.
- Sons and daughters should be more involved in the recruitment and training of their parents as foster carers, and have a say in which children are placed with their family.
- At least one local social worker should be responsible for the sons and daughters of foster carers in their area and should be available to answer questions and deal with problems early on.
- Sons and daughters should have access to better information about fostering and regular support groups where they can share their experiences.
To help sons and daughters understand and get ready to foster the charity has also launched a new handbook called My Family Fosters, which answers important questions and includes the experiences of foster carers’ own children across the UK.
Raina Sheridan, deputy chief executive of the Fostering Network, said: “Living in a family that fosters can help sons and daughters to mature and become good role models, but they need extra help to deal with the added responsibility. They have to learn to share their toys, their home and, most importantly, their parents. Ensuring they are more involved in important decisions and have the right support and information is vital to the success of fostering.”
Edward Timpson, MP for Crewe and Nantwich, is the son of foster carers and is helping launch the new campaign at an event in his constituency. He said: “My own childhood experience has left me in no doubt that sons and daughters of foster carers play a key and undervalued role in foster families.
"The work done and report published by the Fostering Network not only recognise that vital role but provide a strong blueprint for Government to implement these recommendations across fostering services."