At Eastern Fostering Services, we have a fantastic community of foster carers. They are warm and friendly. Moreover, they are devoted to the children in their care.
You may be wondering what it is like to foster with Eastern Fostering Services. So we asked our carers and here’s what they said.
I love the fact it’s a small team, everybody is interested in and aware of, all of the children. I never need to explain the children’s needs
Theresa and Paul
Having been foster carers for 9 years with another agency, we transferred to Eastern Fostering Services in 2019. The whole process was an inclusive and empowering experience. Since transferring, the support we have received is better than we could have hoped. There is always a friendly voice at the end of the line if ever they are needed. We wish we had become a part of the Eastern Fostering Services family years ago.
Paul and Denise
We love Eastern Fostering Services. We love the friendly, family-like feel of the organisation, while at the same time being able to trust that we will be treated in a professional manner at all times. (Balancing these two things is a real skill) We love the staff’s dedication to the children and we love the fact that we are so valued and supported as carers. We love the excellent training that we get and the outings provided for the children. And we have the best Social Worker in the world!
Jim
We’ve been with Eastern Fostering Services since we started fostering. What impressed me from the start was the pastoral care they give to foster parents. It’s not always easy to foster, but the staff are always on hand to give support and advice. They put the interests of the child first, of course, but in the context of supporting foster parents to give the best care possible in the prevailing circumstances. There’s always plenty of training. And if we’ve felt the need for any specialist help, Eastern Fostering Services have been there to provide it. We’ve also benefited from a great network with other carers in the area which Eastern Fostering Services is instrumental in supporting. Finally, they have supported our wider family, including our children, and I think that has helped us make a success of fostering (so far).
Michelle and Robert
We have been fostering with EFS for nearly 4 years. We live in Suffolk. We have had so much support with all our placements so far. EFS are always at the end of the phone if I ever need anyone anytime.
Rachel and Will
Eastern Fostering Service is a very friendly and small agency which means that each fostering family feels well known and cared for.
We really love our supervising social worker. She is so easy to talk to and great company, which makes the whole experience so much easier. I feel that there is nothing we cannot ask her and never feel like we are a nuisance.
Our social worker has been developing a Cambridgeshire group of carers and we meet regularly and feel like we’ve known each other for ever, (which we really haven’t). The other carers are a great support and we regularly message each other when we need help or to encourage each other.
One of the best things about Eastern Fostering Services for us as a family is how forward-thinking they are, which has meant that we were able to foster, when the local authority and other agencies may have ruled us out. Because they focus on simply finding the right match for you and your family at the right pace, it is not about sticking to a set of hard and fast rules about what does and doesn’t work.
Eastern Fostering Services provide the best wrap-around care you could ask for. I really would not want to do this challenging, but amazing thing without that high level of support.
What is it like for the children?
We asked our children what it is like to be cared for by Eastern Fostering Services. Here is what they said…
I think Sandra is amazing as she can put a smile on your face. I have come to all of the days out and they were all excellent. I loved them all but my favourite has to be Star Wars because it was a brilliant time. I had lots of fun. I hope there will be more because I have loved being at Eastern Fostering Services. Thank you so much, it has been incredible.
They [the foster carer and the agency] are doing a brilliant job. If I wasn’t with this agency it would be 10 times worse. No one would remind them [the placing authority] what they should be doing.
At Eastern Fostering Services, they are always kind and caring and you can ask them anything and they have very good social workers.
We do loads of fun stuff with Eastern Fostering Services. I like the talent show, it’s really fun. Oh and the beach days!
10 out of 10’ because, ‘they are so lovely and kind. They go the extra mile.
