Do I get paid to be a foster carer?
Lucy Stevens - 17th July 2018
When it comes to fostering, money is an emotive and often controversial topic of conversation. Nonetheless, in the interest of answering the questions we get about finances, it is a topic we’d like to address. We’d like to start out by making it clear that good foster carers are always motivated by a deep 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 financial gain and it is very important to us that they are not. However, one cannot escape the fact that it costs money to raise a child and it
Tags: #ProudToSupportFostering, applying to be a foster carer, becoming a foster carer, Cambridgeshire, Eastern Fostering Services, Essex, foster, foster care, foster carer, fostering, fostering agency, fostering application, fostering assessment, Fostering Cambridgeshire, fostering Essex, fostering service, fostering Suffolk, how to foster, The Fostering Network
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Showing Affection
Lucy Stevens - 4th July 2018
“I was told you can’t cuddle a child or sit on their bed to read a story!” This is a comment we get all the time and in the majority of cases, it couldn’t be further from the truth. In the fostering household, we want to replicate all the positives of growing up in a nurturing family. We want children to feel listened to, cherished, nurtured and advocated for. In lots of families, this sense of security and being valued comes from physical affection too, something that many of us take for granted. One of the differences between fostering and parenting is that as a foster carer, you have to be a lot more intentional around things like physical affection.
Tags: applying to be a foster carer, becoming a foster carer, Cambridgeshire, Eastern Fostering Services, fostering, Fostering Cambridgeshire, fostering Essex, fostering service, fostering Suffolk, how to foster, Suffolk, The Fostering Network
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Fostering and the spare room
Lucy Stevens - 29th June 2018
Do I need a spare room to foster? We've talked to many people interested in fostering in Essex, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. One of the most common questions is "Why do I need a spare room in order to foster?" 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 frustrating and we often get further questions asking us why this policy exists for foster carers. 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 young or
Tags: applying to be a foster carer, Cambridgeshire, Eastern Fostering Services, Essex, foster care, foster carer, fostering, Fostering Cambridgeshire, fostering Essex, fostering Suffolk, Spare room, Suffolk
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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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Becoming a foster carer – how do I apply?
Lucy Stevens - 16th March 2018
Becoming a foster carer. How do I decide who with? Once you've decided to foster, the next decision is which agency to foster through. We advise that you do your research and see which fostering agencies operate in your local area. If you live in Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk or Norfolk, you need to make sure that your Fostering provider is easy to get to and will be able to support you effectively. Eastern Fostering Services have a head office in Suffolk and are therefore able to support foster carers in Essex, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. You need to get a good feel for the fostering agency. For example, how foster carer focussed are they? What do their foster carers say
Tags: applying to be a foster carer, becoming a foster carer, Cambridgeshire, Eastern Fostering Services, Essex, foster, fostering, fostering agency, fostering application, fostering service, Norfolk, Suffolk
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