Why foster?
Lucy Stevens - 6th September 2018
“Why am I doing this?” is a question all foster carers will ask themselves at some point and it’s an important question to ask yourself as it enables you to keep your motivations central to your fostering experience. So why do people foster? Most people who foster feel passionately about the wellbeing of children. They want to give opportunities to children who may not have had the best start in life; they want to share something of themselves, if you like. For many, this is not centred around sharing material wealth, this is about loving, nurturing and caring for a child and for others there is a sense that “I have so much and want to share it.” Most foster
Tags: #ProudToFoster, applying to be a foster carer, becoming a foster carer, Cambridgeshire, Eastern Fostering Services, foster carer, fostering, Fostering Cambridgeshire, fostering Essex, fostering service, fostering Suffolk, how to foster, money for foster carers, skills to foster, Spare room, Suffolk, The Fostering Network
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Your fostering questions answered – personal checks and references
Lucy Stevens - 26th July 2018
What personal checks and references are needed for my assessment to become a foster carer? And why? Eastern Fostering Services wants to recruit foster carers who can meet the individual needs of children and young people and provide them with a safe and nurturing environment in which to grow. When they apply, all prospective foster carers undergo a fostering assessment which takes on average 4-6 months. The assessment includes: An initial home visit A medical report – carried out by the GP and paid for by EFS At least 3 personal references Identity checks including an enhanced DBS Previous partner references Health and Safety assessments 6-10 home visits and interviews including some with birth children and other household members A
Tags: #ProudToFoster, #ProudToSupportFostering, applying to be a foster carer, becoming a foster carer, Cambridgeshire, Eastern Fostering Services, Essex, Fostering Cambridgeshire, fostering Essex, fostering Suffolk, Suffolk, The Fostering Network
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Why do I need a spare room in order to foster?
Lucy Stevens - 27th June 2018
This is a question we still get asked a lot! So we thought we’d tackle it as the first topic in our series of videos answering your most common fostering questions. The short answer is that it is a mandatory requirement to have a spare bedroom to dedicate to fostering when you apply to be a foster carer*. Many people find this very frustrating and we often get further questions asking us why this policy exists for Local Authorities and Fostering Providers. Here are just a few reasons: Would you move into a house and share a bedroom with a complete stranger? Moving in with a new foster family is a frightening and confusing time for children, no matter how
Tags: #ProudToFoster, #ProudToSupportFostering, applying to be a foster carer, becoming a foster carer, Cambridgeshire, Eastern Fostering Services, Essex, foster, foster care, fostering, fostering agency, Fostering Cambridgeshire, fostering Essex, Suffolk
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We’re here to answer your fostering questions
Lucy Stevens - 18th June 2018
As we speak to people across Essex, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire about the shortage in foster carers, we are always struck by the fact that the same questions get asked and that many similar misconceptions are held. In a series of videos we’d like to answer the questions we hear most frequently. But of course we’ll also answer any other questions you’d like us to. Please feel free to message us or comment with your questions or tell us what’s stopping you from taking that step towards fostering. If you’d prefer to ask your questions in person, you can come to one of our events or drop in to our offices. For all dates and details please visit our Facebook events
Tags: #ProudToFoster, #ProudToSupportFostering, applying to be a foster carer, becoming a foster carer, Cambridgeshire, Eastern Fostering Services, foster, foster care, foster carer, fostering, fostering application, Fostering Cambridgeshire, fostering Essex, fostering Suffolk, how to foster, Suffolk, The Fostering Network
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Your Fostering Questions
Lucy Stevens - 5th June 2018
When thinking about fostering, there are many common questions people ask. Speaking to people in Essex, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire about fostering, we've heard some common questions. Here are our responses to frequent questions about fostering. Am I too old to foster? There is no upper age limit for foster carers. There is a lower age limit of 21. Generally, in order to foster you need to be in reasonably good health with good physical and emotional resilience. Many foster carers have health conditions which they manage alongside fostering so don't let this put you off! Can I foster if I don't own my own home? Yes, as long as a secure tenancy is in place there is no need for
Tags: #ProudToFoster, Cambridgeshire, Essex, foster care, foster carer, fostering allowance, Fostering Cambridgeshire, fostering Essex, fostering money, fostering Suffolk, how to foster, Suffolk
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Proud to be Fostering
Lucy Stevens - 21st May 2018
Our carers are proud to foster The Fostering Network estimate that the UK needs another 8000 foster carers. Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire reflect the same national picture. Our foster carers come from all walks of life. Some of them have had happy childhoods and others have been through tough times. Some of our foster carers are single while others are married with children. In fact, our foster carers are diverse - as they should be! Foster carers can be rich, poor, home-owners, tenants, gay, straight, male, female, of any faith or none. So, whilst all our carers are different, they all have one thing in common. This Foster Care Fortnight they are all #ProudToFoster. One of our foster carer's Paul
Tags: #ProudToFoster, becoming a foster carer, Eastern Fostering Services, foster carer, fostering, Fostering Cambridgeshire, fostering Essex, fostering Suffolk
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Foster Care Fortnight is here
Lucy Stevens - 14th May 2018
What is Foster Care Fortnight? Foster Care Fortnight starts today. Foster Care Fortnight is a national campaign run every year by the Fostering Network. It aims to increase awareness around fostering and promote its benefits in order to recruit more foster carers. This year the campaign slogan is #ProudToFoster and focuses on how varied a group foster carers are and so showing that people from any walk of life can foster. They have even produced a short film featuring one of our carers. Here at Eastern Fostering Services, we have asked our carers to produce their own short film and a blog. You can see these on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/EasternFosteringServices To celebrate Foster Care Fortnight we will be
Tags: #FCF18, #ProudToFoster, #ProudToSupportFostering, applying to be a foster carer, becoming a foster carer, Eastern Fostering Services, Essex, Fostering Cambridgeshire, fostering Essex, fostering Suffolk, Suffolk, The Fostering Network
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