Initial Worry No5 – Managing children’s family time
Mia Winfield - 12th December 2025
An important part of fostering is helping children maintain connections with their birth family. Often referred to as “family time” or “contact,” these visits are a vital part of a child’s care plan. But for foster carers, supporting family time can feel challenging, even worrying. The truth is that while family time can be emotional and sometimes unpredictable, it is also hugely beneficial for the child — and foster carers play a key role in making it a positive experience. Why Family Time Matters Even when children cannot live with their birth parents, maintaining relationships helps them stay connected to their identity, family, and community. Regular contact can: Support emotional wellbeing Help children understand their story and heritage Strengthen sibling
More Info
Initial Worry No4 – Does Fostering Mean Living in a Goldfish Bowl? Understanding the Reality Behind the Worry
Mia Winfield - 5th December 2025
One of the most common concerns people share when they’re thinking about fostering is this:“Will our home feel like a goldfish bowl, with professionals coming and going all the time?” It’s a completely natural worry. Opening your home to a child in care is already a big decision — the idea of constant visits, paperwork, and scrutiny can easily feel overwhelming. But the truth is far more balanced, and countless foster carers say that the support around them becomes a comfort, not a disruption. Let’s break down what this really looks like. Why It Feels Like a Goldfish Bowl at First When a child first comes to live with you, there is naturally a period of settling in. Social workers
More Info
Initial worry No3 – “What If I’m Not Confident Enough to Be a Foster Carer? Will it be too difficult”
Mia Winfield - 28th November 2025
Starting a fostering journey is exciting, life-changing… and often a little scary. One of the most common fears people share with us is: “What if I’m not confident enough?”“What if it’s too difficult and I can’t cope?” If you’ve ever had those thoughts, you’re in very good company. The truth is:nearly every foster carer has felt that way before they started. No one begins as an expert Foster carers aren’t born confident.Confidence grows with experience, support and small everyday wins. Carers frequently tell us: “I worried I wouldn’t know what to do — but the training prepared me.” “I thought I’d need all the answers — but I learned along the way.” “I expected it to be overwhelming — but
More Info
Initial worry No2 – Will I need to ask permission for everything?
Mia Winfield - 21st November 2025
When you decide to foster through Eastern Fostering Services, there’s a wonderful mix of excitement, nervousness and big questions.One concern that often comes up, and one of the worries our current foster carers shared from when they first started is: “Will I need to ask permission for everything?” It’s totally understandable. Fostering involves a child or young person who is looked-after by the local authority, so it can feel like you might need to phone someone for every little decision — “Can they go to a friend’s house?”, “Can they go on a school trip?” etc. But here’s the reassuring reality. Carers are trusted to make everyday parenting decisions Fostering isn’t about being micromanaged. It’s about giving children a safe,
More Info
Initial Worry No1 – Being judged by my Social Worker
Mia Winfield - 14th November 2025
Becoming a foster carer is a big and often emotional step. It takes courage, compassion, and a deep commitment to helping children who need a safe and nurturing home. Yet for many new carers, one common worry can quietly creep in — the fear of being judged by their social worker. Why This Worry Happens It’s completely natural to feel a bit anxious when someone is visiting your home, asking questions, or observing how you interact with a child. Many foster carers want to do everything “right,” and the thought of a professional evaluating their parenting can feel intimidating.You might worry that your home isn’t perfect, that your parenting style will be criticised, or that one mistake could reflect badly
More Info
October News & Highlights 🎃
Mia Winfield - 3rd November 2025
October has been a wonderfully busy and heart-warming month for our fostering family — filled with achievements, new faces, celebrations, and a fair bit of spooky fun! Here’s a look back at what we’ve been up to. Welcome to the Team, Jodie! We’re delighted to welcome Jodie to our team this month as a Supervising Social Worker. Jodie brings a wealth of experience, having worked with children in care, managed social care safeguarding referrals for children in Essex, and supported young people in both supported housing and drug and alcohol rehabilitation services. Her passion for supporting children and families shines through, and we’re so pleased to have her join us. Welcome, Jodie! 🌟 Star of the Month – T A
More Info
What It’s Like Being a Foster Sibling: The Joys and the Challenges for Families to Consider
Mia Winfield - 15th October 2025
When you decide to foster, your whole family becomes part of the journey — not just you as parents. Your children play a vital role in welcoming, supporting, and sharing their home with another child who may have experienced trauma or instability. For many families, fostering is an incredibly rewarding experience, but it also brings changes that can be deeply felt by everyone, including your own children. Understanding what it’s like to be a foster sibling can help you prepare, support your family, and make the fostering experience as positive as possible for everyone involved. The Positives: How Fostering Can Enrich Your Children’s Lives 1. Building Empathy and Compassion Fostering offers children a powerful lesson in empathy. They see firsthand
More Info
September Round-Up 🌟
Mia Winfield - 1st October 2025
What a summer it’s been! A big thank you to everyone who joined us for our adventures — from camp on Mersea Island, to beach day fun, to our forest BBQ in Thetford. We couldn’t have asked for better company or better weather! But with September comes a return to school runs, packed lunches and the familiar buzz of routine. We’re so proud of all our children for settling back in so brilliantly — a huge well done to you all, but a special mention to T, who has received SEVEN positive referrals for academic achievement in lessons👏 This month we also had the pleasure of welcoming not one, but two new supervising social workers to the team. A very
More Info
Managing Self-Harm as a Foster Carer: A Guide to Compassionate Support
Mia Winfield - 15th September 2025
As a foster carer, you’re often called upon to provide safety, stability, and unconditional support to children and young people who have experienced trauma and adversity. Some of the children you care for may have lived through situations that lead to coping mechanisms such as self-harm. Understanding how to manage self-harm as a foster carer is essential to providing the emotional care and healing that these children need. This blog will guide you through strategies for supporting young people who may engage in self-harm, offering compassionate insights, practical advice, and resources for managing the situation in a way that promotes their well-being and healing. 1. Understand the Root Causes of Self-Harm Self-harm can be a response to emotional pain, overwhelming
More Info
August Round-Up: Sunshine, Summer Fun & Celebrating Progress
Mia Winfield - 29th August 2025
As the summer holidays come to a close, we’re looking back on what has been a truly fantastic August here at EFS. With sunshine, seaside trips, sweet treats, and plenty of shared laughter, we’ve packed the month full of connection, creativity, and community. Summer Adventures and Smiles We made the most of the brilliant weather this month with a series of fun-filled outings and events for our children and carers. In Thetford, we hosted a joyful day packed with activities including our very own Bake Off, the ever-popular Cheerio Game, and plenty of sunshine-fuelled fun. Meanwhile in Walton, nothing says summer quite like fish and chips by the sea—and that’s exactly what we enjoyed! It was a wonderful chance for
More Info
