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        Category archives: News

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        5 steps to becoming a foster carer

        Lucy Stevens - 28th August 2019

        Step 1  - Register your interest Thinking of becoming a foster carer? How do you find out which fostering providers to approach? As with anything in life, when it comes to becoming a foster carer, you should do your research. As a foster carer, you will need excellent support so you should look for local fostering providers who offer quality, 24 hour support. Smaller agencies are often better placed to offer quality, tailored support. The Fostering Network have a tool on their website that allows you to search for local fostering providers. Moreover the internet is an excellent source of information. However, you need to know what you are looking for when deciding which fostering provider might best suit you

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        Independent Fostering Agencies: right to reply

        Lucy Stevens - 27th August 2019

        On Tuesday 27th August, the BBC covered a news story relating to fostering, and in particular, to the role of independent fostering agencies in fostering. Radio 4’s Today programme devoted a large swathe of their air time to the subject and a written article can be found on the BBC News website. Eastern Fostering Services, as a small, independent fostering agency, were disappointed to find that the independent providers were yet again vilified as cash counting mercenaries who are only working in the fostering sector for financial gain. Such broad-based assumption feeds in to the negative associations that are held in relation to fostering more widely. The private and public should be able to work together to provide the best

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        Fostering children: a new PATH?

        Lucy Stevens - 15th July 2019

        Fostering should empower children to make a better future for themselves. When fostering children, how do we ensure we keep children at the heart of everything we do? Many foster carers are highly driven to provide child-centric care to the children they are fostering. This takes many forms from therapeutic fostering, advocacy, support in education and providing boundaries. And let's not forget good old fashioned love and nurturing. All foster carers however need to work within the system and its associated requirements and constraints. It is within this arena that many foster carers see the child-centred approach turn on its heels and disappear. Is a child centred approach to fostering children always adopted in meetings with professionals? many foster carers

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        Fostering Refugee Children

        Lucy Stevens - 12th June 2019

        What should carers know when it comes to fostering refugee children? When it comes to fostering refugee children, carers must learn to navigate a whole new world. Let's start with semantics. The language people use when discussing the needs, provision and challenges associated with fostering refugee children is specific and fluid. In the UK we tend to brand all migrant children as refugee children or vice versa. In fact, whether someone is a refugee or not is specified in law. Moreover, it often directly relates to that child's legal status at the time. It is highly likely that if you are fostering a refugee child, you are actually caring for an Unaccompanied Migrant Child. But you could equally be looking

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        Becoming a foster carer: 5 things you should know

        Lucy Stevens - 28th May 2019

        Becoming a foster carer will change your life. Here are 5 things you should know. Fostering is hard but rewarding Becoming a foster carer is one of the bravest steps you can take. It is a job that takes place in your home, 24/7. Fostering will require you to make changes to your life. Not only will you be fostering the most vulnerable children in society but you will be working within a difficult system too. It's hard work. BUT the rewards are beyond anything you could expect in any other job. If you're in two minds about fostering, simply ask yourself, "in what other job can I transform lives?" With the right support, from the right fostering agency, fostering

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        Could you #changeafuture

        Lucy Stevens - 7th May 2019

        Good fostering can transform lives This May sees the start of Foster Care Fortnight, the UK’s biggest awareness raising campaign for foster care. In the UK, it is estimated that over 8000 additional fostering families are needed . “In the East of England alone, we need over 600 additional carers to allow us to provide well matched foster carers to the children who need them,” says Eleanor Vanner of Eastern Fostering Services, an agency who look after children across Essex, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. “Every 20 minutes in the UK another child comes into care needing a fostering family; it’s vital that we have a good pool of carers for these children.” Fostering offers children and young people the opportunity for

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        What qualifications do you need to be a foster carer?

        Lucy Stevens - 10th January 2019

        The short answer to the question of what qualifications foster carers need is none! So what do we look for in foster carers? Whilst foster carers do not need formal qualifications, there are qualities that we look for. Foster carers need to be resilient. During the fostering assessment resilience is looked at and foster carers can cite their life experience to evidence this. Foster carers need to have emotional intelligence, empathy and kindness. Because many looked after children have specific emotional needs. But don't worry if you don't know a lot about the ins and outs of fostering. Foster carers undergo training as part of their assessment. Whilst it is helpful to have experience of children and child care, even this is

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        Do I get paid to foster?

        Lucy Stevens - 14th November 2018

        Do I get paid to foster? When it comes to fostering, money is an emotive topic of conversation. Nonetheless, people ask "Do I get paid to foster?" and in order to answer the questions we get about finances, it's a topic we’d like to address. We’d like to make it clear that good foster carers are motivated by a desire to make a positive difference in the lives of children. The best foster carers seek to nurture, love and advocate for the children in their care. In our experience, very few carers are ever motivated by money and it is very important to us that they are not. However, one cannot escape the fact that it costs money to raise

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        Fostering Information Event dates for your diary

        Lucy Stevens - 18th October 2018

        Fostering Information Events We hold regular events for people who are seeking information about fostering. Often we have some of our carers with us who are more than happy to share their experiences of fostering. When you are looking into fostering it is important that you do as much fact finding as possible. Equally, it's vital that you get a feel for how well the agency will support you. When is the nearest fostering event to me? Keep an eye on our Facebook events page for future events around Essex, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. Equally, let us know you'd be interested in dropping in and we can arrange something with you! www.facebook.com/EasternFosteringServices/events

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        Can I foster if I have birth children?

        Lucy Stevens - 6th October 2018

        Fostering alongside birth children – what do I need to know? Fostering is something that is often considered by people once their children have left home. Or by people who have not had children of their own. Increasingly we’re getting questions from people wanting to foster who have birth children living in the home. This month sees the Fostering Network celebrate Sons and Daughters Month. This marks the contribution children make to fostering. Therefore, we thought it was the perfect time to address the subject. What should you consider if you want to foster alongside your own children? Involve your children in your discussions, fact finding and in the application and assessment. Eastern Fostering Services have many carers who have their own

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