At Eastern Fostering Services, we recognise that one of the most important functions of all fostering communities is to offer support to foster carers and the children and young people they care for.

So, today we want to look at take a look at the Eastern Fostering Services team and the role it plays as a vital Fostering Community.

Who is the Eastern Fostering Services team?

The team at Eastern Fostering Services is small but perfectly formed. In every area of the agency, we have been able to attract people who are passionate about children and the opportunities fostering can give them when done well.

Supervising social worker community

We have a team of Supervising Social Workers supporting carers across Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire. Their role is to support and advocate for our carers and the children they care for. They offer carers regular supervision in which carers are able to share the successes of the children, seek advice, share any concerns, ask for help to communicate with other professionals or identify additional areas for training and development. One of the social work team is always available outside of office hours, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Our team of social workers pride themselves on the relationships they build with carers, which allow honesty, transparency and an ability to secure the best possible outcomes for children.

The social workers accompany carers to all professionals’ meetings and support carers in their communications with other professionals to ensure the voice of the child is heard.

Children and young people’s participation community

Our participation team works directly with the children and young people to build relationships with them and to ensure that we always hear their voices. They hold a regular forum for young people called Choices for Young Voices which enables the young people to discuss issues that affect them and how they would like Eastern Fostering Services to advocate for them. The team also works with birth children who have their own forum My Best Fostering Family so that they have a space to build further relationships and ensure they get the support they need. Both groups of young people have regular opportunities to mix together at Eastern Fostering Services events and many of them have formed really close bonds!

Administration Community

We have a team of very hard-working administrators who ensure that the significant amount of paperwork required of fostering providers is all in order. There are strict regulations which all fostering providers must comply with, and it is important that records are kept complete and up to date.

The team also make sure that we communicate well with our carers and children so that they know what training, events or fun days are organised and when. The admin team is a key part of the fostering agency, supporting carers to manage the paperwork that is associated with fostering. We’re happy to be able to thank them and celebrate them this Foster Care Fortnight.

Accounts community

All foster carers receive a weekly allowance for fostering so that they can support the practical, material and emotional needs of the children they care for. Making sure that all carers receive the correct allowance and expenses on time is no mean feat. Yet our team does it seemingly effortlessly.

As a fostering agency, Eastern Fostering Services feel strongly that we should plough finances back into the children. We do this by providing therapeutic services, direct workers, days out, social events and focus groups. Our accounts team helps us to recognise where we need to put resources and when. None of this would be possible without our financial whizz kids!

Assessment Community

When we accept your application to foster with us, we assign you your own assessor. We use a number of current or former social workers so that we can choose the one we feel best suited to work with you as an individual to produce your Form F.

Assessors need to be warm, sensitive, thorough, tenacious, analytical, strong communicators, diligent and organised. They need to have a lot of expert knowledge around fostering and its requirements. The assessment needs to be thorough so that panel have all the information they need and yet it also needs to be managed as sensitively as possible with potential carers to create an open, trusting space. Not an easy balance! Yet our team does this with great skill.

Placements Community

The placing of children with foster carers is a vital part of the fostering process. We take matching extremely seriously at Eastern Fostering Services. Whilst in many ways you don’t truly know if fostering is going to work for you until you start living it, we can give it the best chance of success. We do this by getting to know you, your circumstances, your strengths and your motivations. When we then receive requests for foster carers for specific children and young people, we have a good idea of whether they are a potential match. We will always ask for your input, check what questions or concerns you have and try and get as much information about the children as is possible. Foster carers always have the right to say no to a child they don’t feel is a match and this in itself helps us to refine our matching.

Recruitment Community

We always need more foster carers! Attracting new carers is something every member of the Eastern Fostering Services community takes responsibility for, including our carers!

“We think you are an exceptional agency and always feel like part of a welcoming family.”

You can find out more about the Eastern Fostering Services Community here.

If you’re thinking about fostering, please get in touch with us. You can email us at team@easternfosteringservices.com or call us on 01206 299775 or you can message us on Facebook.

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Today, I am reflecting on one of those life events that makes being a Social Worker for nearly 30 years worthwhile. I claim no credit for the achievements of this incredibly special woman, I am just grateful for being part of her journey.

I first met ‘Belle” (she is a Disney fan, so we agreed on this as her pseudonym) in the 1990’s as her fostering Social Worker. She was a feisty, mixed-up teen, rightly angry with the world but also clearly possessing a strong and positive spirit. We immediately struck up a great rapport that has now stood the test of time, having just been to her wedding in 2022.

As I write this, I can feel the goosebumps rising on my arms, because to see her walk down the aisle, looking like a Disney Princess, beaming with a sense of peace about her was a moment I find hard to describe-my heart swelled, and I shed a tear-particularly when I saw the look on the face of her husband to be-filled with love, telling her how fabulous she looked.

Then

Belle had a rough start to life, she was part of a family of four and they were all separated as children-her younger brother being adopted on his own, her older brother remaining in foster care because he was seen as ‘too old’ to adopt, and Belle and her sister going to live with an adoptive family together. For Belle, the adoption didn’t work out-the adoptive family rejected her and kept her sister-causing a fracture in their sibling relationship that lasted many years. Belle went to a fostering family who specialised in looking after teenage girls and she found a place where she felt accepted. Feeling part of this family gave her some space to express some of the anger and hurt, and on top of the usual challenges of growing up, she was trying to come to terms with her past-this led to such a mixture of emotions for her, but her fostering family and I could always see what was underneath and I’m glad we were able to help hold her while she raged at the world.

Belle did well at school but the transition between childhood and adulthood was hard, and as she moved into independent living; Belle bounced around a lot in different accommodation. She always had a great sense of justice and I remember her losing her place in the YMCA for hitting someone who was a bully. Nowadays she still has that sense of defending the vulnerable, but she does it with well-chosen words!

The journey

Despite her inner struggles, she connected well with her community and was a regular on the local karaoke scene, often winning competitions as she is such a talented singer. She also performed in local pantomimes, something she still does, making connections wherever she goes.

Whilst academically gifted, Belle found it hard to focus on a career choice; she was too busy just learning how to make her way in life day to day. The legacy of such an unsettled early life can continue to be felt at many milestones in adulthood. This was also affected by her becoming pregnant with her daughter, a much-loved surprise.

Belle adapted to life as a single parent brilliantly, loving her daughter fiercely, being determined to give her everything she hadn’t had, and her daughter has now grown from the ‘bald boxer’ I affectionately and not very politely, used to describe her as, to being a beautiful reflection of her mother, an absolute credit to Belle.

Belle made the decision to move to the north of England, to work with children in care, having always been clear that she wanted to ‘give something back’, an attitude that I thoroughly applaud, and respect. She had very little herself, yet she was still looking at how she could help others. This also gave her the opportunity to re-build her relationship with her sister and today they are incredibly close, demonstrating that although experiences in childhood can carry with us through adult life, they don’t have to define it.

I remember going to Belle’s goodbye party before she moved away, and as I arrived, she shouted ‘my Social Worker is here!’ I can’t say that made me the most popular party guest, but it did give me the opportunity to show her friends on her estate that I wasn’t too scary!

Now

Belle is now working in a school, carrying on the tradition of helping others, she attends her local church, she performs in panto, and she has just married a man who clearly thinks the world of her. She has a family with her daughter and his girls. She is still feisty; she still expresses her opinions with feeling and clarity, and she is still a uniquely lovely person who I am proud to know, and care for deeply. At her wedding were all four siblings, together for the first time in many years.

But the last word has to go to Belle:

“You missed the part where YOU used to go above and beyond what was expected of you to make sure I always got what I needed, even when I didn’t know I needed it. 

And the part where I chose to name my daughter after one of the fiercest warriors in social worker history in the hope that she becomes just as fierce and composed and loyal.” 

This is what makes being part of the Fostering Social Worker community so worthwhile.

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Why is our fostering community so important?

Foster carers know that being part of a wider group of carers is important for many reasons. A warm and supportive community of foster carers provides other foster carers with:

• A source of encouragement, particularly when times are tough. Foster carers have seen it all! When carers encounter difficulties or challenges with the children they are fostering, it is so important that they can seek the support and counsel of someone who knows exactly how they feel.
• Resilience. Communities of foster carers are themselves a means of building individual resilience. Having a group of people you can share knowledge with and learn from can help carers develop their own resilience toolkit.
• Perspective. Every foster carer has their own approach. Quite often when you’re in the thick of challenging circumstances, it can be difficult to view things objectively. Having a community of foster carers who can each offer their own perspective and approaches can really help you to see the wood and not just the trees!
• Confidence. Don’t forget you are also part of the fostering community. You will be able to offer support to other foster carers too. It is often only in conversations with other foster carers that you realise how much you have learned, the skills you have developed and the perspective you have gained. Knowing what you know does wonders for your confidence. Confidence itself makes you a more effective foster carer.
• Fun! The carers we are lucky enough to have at Eastern Fostering Services are warm, friendly and have a great sense of humour (often cited as the most important quality needed for fostering.) It is simply good fun to get together and socialise. The importance of fun is often underestimated as an important part of building resilience and robust mental health.

What do our foster carers say about the Eastern Fostering Services Fostering Community?

“Being part of the Eastern Fostering Services Fostering community is like being in a family!”

“It’s like stepping into a warm bath.”

“We’ve also benefited from a great network with other carers in Essex, which Eastern Fostering Services is instrumental in supporting.”

“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.”

“We have had so much support from Eastern Fostering Services but also from our fellow carers in Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire. We love the days out and getting together for training or beach days and the Christmas lunch!”

If you’d like to know more about our fostering community, please get in touch.

You can message us on Facebook, email us at team@easternfosteringservices.com contact us via our website or call us on 01206 299775.

The post The Fostering Community at Eastern Fostering Services appeared first on Eastern Fostering Services.

In the UK, there are now more children than ever in need of foster carers. Children in Essex, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire are no exception.

Our children need local foster carers who can keep them in education, in local communities and near to the people who are important to them.

Which children need foster carers?

There are children in every age group who are in need of a nurturing foster carer. From young sibling groups, teenagers, mother and babies, children with additional needs and unaccompanied children. The list goes on. By far the most typical children are sibling groups and young people between the ages of 10 to 16.

What does it take to foster?

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need qualifications to foster. We look for more general qualities such as empathy, warmth, resilience and passion. In fact, we produced a short film outlining the qualities foster carers should have. You can view the film here.

What are you waiting for?

It could be that you are the perfect match for a child in need. If you want to know more about fostering and you live in Essex, Suffolk or Cambridgeshire, call us on 01206 299775, email us at team@easternfosteringservices.com or follow us on Facebook.

Come and meet us!

You can come and meet the Eastern Fostering Services team and our carers at one of our fostering coffee mornings. Details of all events can be found on our Facebook page. And don’t forget we’ve put loads of information about fostering on our website, so do take a look.

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According to the Fostering Network, children in the East of England need approximately 700 additional foster carers. Moreover these children are paying a hefty price for the shortfall.

The importance of being local

Many children in foster care have a powerful need to be near the familiar. Often, school or friendship groups might be the only positive thing in their lives. Therefore, when children are taken away from both family and friends or school they are devastated.

“We believe that children in foster care deserve a sensitive matching with carers,” says Eleanor Newman of Eastern Fostering Services. “However, we are finding it increasingly hard to match children because of a lack of carers. This means we are unable to help many children which is heart-breaking.”

The aim

Professionals working in fostering want to provide stable, long-term families who can help children reach their potential. They want to work towards a plan for that child. For example, the child might be working towards reunification with their birth family. Or they may be looking for long term fostering until independence. The smaller the pool of local carers, the more difficult it becomes to see the plan through.

The reality

“Children in Essex, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire are crying out for local carers,” says Lucy Stevens, Foster Carer. “Indeed, they need carers who can offer them the continuity of positive things and the sense of stability that brings.”

What qualities do foster carers need?

Foster carers need to have a spare room available for fostering. Moreover they need an understanding of the challenges that children in foster care face. Foster carers do not need qualifications.

“Indeed we would much rather see kindness, compassion and empathy,” says Eleanor. “If you feel you would like to help children and make a difference to society as a whole, fostering is a good place to start.”

How to get in touch?

If you are interested in fostering and live in Essex, Suffolk or Cambridgeshire, email us at team@easternfosteringservices.com or contact us via Facebook.

The post Local children need local Foster Carers appeared first on Eastern Fostering Services.

What is attachment theory?

Attachment theory concerns the relationhips between humans. Its most important assertion is that in order to have healthy social and emotional development, young children need to develop a trusting relationship with at least one primary care giver. If, in the early years of life, a child cannot rely on their primary care giver to meet their needs and respond to them, it can lead to attachment difficulties and disorders.

Why is attachment important?

The attachment style we develop has the potential to influence not only our childhood relationships, behaviours, social development and  learning and educational development, but also can affect people throughout adolescence and into adult life. It has the very real capacity to influence the life chances and opportunities of the individual and that of their future children.

Attachment theory maintains that the attachment style you develop during childhood affects the relationships you form as an adult, particularly those of a personal, intimate or romantic nature. Your attachment style can also have a significant impact on your resilience, response to stress, mental health and life chances or opportunities.

Why is attachment relevant to fostering?

If children do not consistently have their needs met in early childhood, they learn that caregivers can’t be relied upon. Similarly, if children are cared for by harmful or unsafe adults, this will affect the relationships they are able to form.

The development of healthy attachment is usually promoted and encouraged by parents or primary caregivers. Positive attachment creates neural pathways in the brain which provide a basis for social behaviours. Poor attachment can create trauma which actually inhibits normal brain development leading potentially to a range of social, emotional, developmental and behavioural problems.

Many children who come into foster care will not have had the primary care that leads to secure attachments. As a foster carer, you may see a range of behaviours related to poor attachment:

• Stress
• Anger
• Anxiety
• Withdrawal
• Clinginess
• Controlling behaviour
• Changeable presentation
• Rejection
• Intense peer relationships
• Frequent relationship breakdowns
• Shame
• Poor focus/concentration
• Risky behaviours
• Lack of sense of identity
• Testing foster carer

The child’s expectation of the foster carer will be based on the patterns of their early life. They may present with some difficult, confusing and exhausting behaviour. Some of these behaviours may be quite subtle and only truly experienced by the foster carers. This is why it’s so important that foster carers have a good understanding of attachment in order to keep sight of the child within. Otherwise, it is the attachment related behaviours that can dominate and this can reinforce the child’s negative view of him/herself.

The good news

The good news for foster carers, the children and for wider society is that some of the gaps can be filled by the reparative care or consistent presence of a key, positive person. It is not too late to help someone discover their sense of self and to let go and trust.

For foster carers, a lot of this is about being.

Being consistent

Being present

Being attuned

Being positive

Being reliable

Being trustworthy

Being there

Eastern Fostering Services recognise that foster carers need to understand attachment and keep revisiting it as a training topic. We offer regular training on the subject face to face and a range of courses online.

If you’d like to know more about fostering with Eastern Fostering Services you can contact us online, by phone on 01206 299775 or via Facebook.

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What is a fostering community?

A fostering community is any group of people or organisations that provide a wider network of support or encouragement to both foster carers and the children and young people they care for. We would argue that fostering communities can also be spontaneous, occurring during opportunities for carers and children to socialise and have fun.

Why are fostering communities important?

Fostering communities, in all their various guises are a crucial part of fostering. They offer foster carers and children invaluable support and encouragement. They are vital in ensuring that fostering relationships are maintained, that carers feel heard and supported and in helping children and young people to thrive. When it comes to fostering, nothing is done in isolation. As the adage goes, it takes a community to raise a child. This is certainly true for fostering. Whilst the main onus is on the foster carers, there are a whole number of people and professionals that can make a profound difference in the lives of the children and young people we care for. It is these people, organisations and opportunities that we wish to celebrate this Foster Care Fortnight.

Foster Care Fortnight and Fostering Communities!

Keep an eye out for us on Facebook and Instagram this May as we shine a light on fostering communities and express our gratitude for them. We’ll be giving you:

• Insight into the Eastern Fostering Services Fostering Community
• An understanding of the support that Eastern Fostering Services offers carers and the difference this can make in transforming lives
• Thoughts from our foster carers on what Fostering Communities mean to them
• Contributions from our children on what they love about being part of our fostering community
• A glimpse of the events that allow communities to form and expand
• A look at the Eastern Fostering Services team and what fostering, and community means to us
• A guide to the professional community that play such an important role in advocating for children and young people

As ever, if you are inspired to start your fostering journey this Foster Care Fortnight, please get in touch via our website, by email at team@easternfosteringservices.com or give us a call on 01206 299775.

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What does it mean to become a foster parent? It’s a question with so many answers but we’re going to try and dissect for you what it means to become a foster parent in the UK, what it entails and how it’ll enrich your life fully.

Foster parents provide a unique outlook on the world for a child or children in their care. If you provide a safe home for a child or children who, for many reasons, can’t stay with their birth family then this is called foster parenting or fostering caring. You can foster a child in an emergency situation which may be for a very short period of time or you may foster in the long term until the child is ready for independence.

If you approach us at Eastern Fostering Services in the hope you can become a foster parent, we’ll immediately be on hand to provide you with all the support you need and no question is too simple or too trivial.

How to become a foster parent

If you choose to work with Eastern Fostering Services, an independent fostering agency, we’ll guide you along your journey and be there every step of the way.

Depending on a couple of factors, including your current situation and suitability, the fostering experience will take between four and six months to complete and you’ll then be eligible to welcome a child or children into your home. While this may initially sound like a long time, it’s important we provide you with the right training and guidance in order for you to become a foster parent.

As you may be dealing with children who have had troubled starts in life and may face a range of complex difficulties, it’s vital that we equip you with all the skills you’ll need. During this time we’ll get to know you and your family in a non-intrusive, nurturing way. We welcome families of all different backgrounds and all walks of life so please do get in touch if you’re thinking of taking the first steps in becoming a foster parent.

Factors in becoming a foster parent

There are many ways you can support children as a foster parent and with Eastern Fostering Services you’ll be given full training. But what needs to be considered? We take into account many factors, all to make your life easier. We’ll sensitively assess you and your living situation to make sure you can give the best support to a foster child. Initially we’ll check for things that would automatically rule you out (like a criminal offence against a child). We won’t make judgement on you, instead we’ll look at how best we can support you.

We’ll consider things like how much space you have in your home, we’ll look at any current children you may have and make sure any foster children are a good fit with your current situation and we’ll also offer an allowance to help support you on the way.

What will you do as a foster parent?

As well as meeting all the practical care needs of the child, you’ll also advocate for your foster child to make sure their emotional, educational and spiritual needs are being met. Advocating for your foster child could mean supporting them as they see their birth parents, acknowledging and seeking help for any additional needs they may have such as autism, ADHD, Foetal Alcohol Syndrome or mental health issues and support a child with their education.

You’ll be asked to keep records documenting milestones, achievements, areas of concern and areas where additional support is needed.

To help a child develop their own skills, you’ll partake in a number of fun and enriching activities which could be anything from growing your own vegetables in the garden with your foster child to teaching them to bake and cook to supporting them as they learn a new language.

Support in becoming a foster parent

We provide excellent support to our foster carers. We know all of our carers and children very well. This means we understand their individual circumstances and needs. Understanding our children and carers is key in our approach to advocating for them. Here’s Paul and Denise’s story about how they found becoming foster parents.

“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!”

You can find more success stories of families who have worked with Eastern Fostering Services here.

Training to become a foster parent

We mentioned that you’ll receive training to become a foster parent but what exactly does that entail? One of our key roles is to help foster carers build knowledge, confidence and resilience. We do this through our varied training and development programme. 

We run a range of training opportunities to help you thrive as a foster parent and we’re always on hand to hear your feedback and offer more as and when needed. We’ll not only train you in terms of knowledge, confidence and resilience but we provide everything from first aid courses, safeguarding children online, conflict resolution and understanding eating disorders to name but a few. You can find out more about our training programmes by clicking here.

Next steps

If becoming a foster parent sounds like something you’re keen to do, contact us and we’ll arrange an initial chat so we can start building together a supportive, caring environment not only for your foster child or children but for you and your family too.

The post Becoming a foster parent appeared first on Eastern Fostering Services.

Whether you’re invested in the fostering process already, just starting out on your journey or you’re curious about fostering, Foster Care Fortnight 2022 is just the ticket for you to explore this community more and make the most of it.

Foster Care Fortnight 2022 is, as you’d imagine, a fortnight dedicated to raising awareness of fostering across the UK. Taking place annually, each campaign is delivered by leading fostering charity The Fostering Network. Created back in 1997, the awareness campaign aims to shed light on the need for more foster carers. From disabled children to siblings, unaccompanied asylum seeking children and older children, the campaign covers every area of fostering.

Why is Foster Care Fortnight 2022 so important?

This year, more than ever, we need Foster Care Fortnight. From a global pandemic to wars across the world, children are being separated from their birth families and put in a position of needing foster families more than ever. Foster Care Fortnight 2022 will shine a light on the incredible work done in recent years by foster families around the UK and show you how you can make a huge impact in the lives of any children you may choose to foster.

When is Foster Care Fortnight 2022?

Foster Care Fortnight will take place between 9th-22nd May with a theme of fostering communities. The theme will help put a focus on the resources we’ve all used over the past two years to help build up our incredible support network of foster carers and the community we’ve created to help aid the fostering experience as a whole.

How can I get involved with Foster Care Fortnight?

There are many ways you can get involved with Foster Care Fortnight. First off, if you’re thinking about becoming a foster carer then you can contact us- no question is too silly, no query too big for our dedicated team. Secondly, you can share your experiences on social media about your fostering community and tell your fostering story; the more we raise awareness, the more children we can find safe and secure foster homes for.

Over the past couple of years, we’ve taken part in the campaign in different ways. Check out what we did in 2020 and 2021 here.

How can I read more about Foster Care Fortnight?

Like and follow our Facebook page, we’ll be sharing lots of information for you.

You can visit The Fostering Network’s official website to find out exactly what they’re up to and for more information on the brilliant fostering community. From celebrities to MPs, so many people will be getting involved with Foster Care Fortnight so it’s just up to you to make sure you play a part in this life changing campaign!

The post Foster Care Fortnight 2022 appeared first on Eastern Fostering Services.

Why are weekly recordings needed?

Good and regular record keeping is important for many reasons:

• Regular recordings as to the progress of the child in many areas of their development allow professionals to identify and advocate for the needs of the child. They may allow fostering professionals to observe trends in behaviour, the emotional state of the child, strategies that are beneficial or ineffective, the impact of events at school or in terms of family contact. These observations should help shape and refine the care package that is offered to the child and can identify problems and areas for improvement. Good quality, prompt recordings can allow for powerful advocacy of children’s needs.
• Weekly recordings should capture any health concerns that might arise day to day. Having robust records can help identify health needs for children and means that carers and professionals can be responsive and proactive in ensuring children are physically healthy.
• In producing detailed and timely recordings, carers can ensure that they get appropriate support in managing some of the more challenging aspects of fostering. Understanding the emotional health of children and the challenges they present to carers, ensures that Supervising Social Workers can have open conversations with foster carers about strategies which might help. Carers and social workers can use the recordings to secure additional emotional or mental health support to support children when they need it.
• Recordings that log and celebrate the achievements of children and the progress they are making allow carers and professionals to acknowledge and praise children when they do well. Equally, children may wish to see their records at some stage in their life and it is important that they can see they were celebrated, noticed and praised for their achievements however big or small.
• Weekly records alert professionals when there are safeguarding issues for the children. Foster carers should alert professionals immediately if there are concerns around safeguarding. This may include online safety, bullying, issues arising during family contact, drug or alcohol use, disclosures of harm or abuse either present or historic, involvement with the police, instances where child or young person has been missing, criminal or sexual exploitation, significant changes in behaviour. Anything of concern should be reported by the foster carer as soon as it comes to light to ensure that children are kept safe immediately.
• Weekly recordings allow professionals to ensure that children have all their material needs catered to. Carers are required to note pocket money, savings and significant purchases they have made for the children.
• Good record keeping also helps carers to protect themselves. By recording in detail, each day carers can demonstrate a chain of evidence in the event that children make allegations against them. Whilst this happens very rarely, foster carers can take some steps to protect themselves by noting all and any incidents and recording what was said and done at the time. Any incidents where carers have had to de-escalate situations or if they have had to physically intervene must be recorded fully and immediately. Any accidents that happen should also be reported immediately as the fostering agency is required by law to report these.

What should foster carers expect to record?

Each fostering provider will have their own guidance in place as to what and how foster carers should record. Here at Eastern Fostering Services, we ask carers to consider the following areas relating to the care they are giving:

• Education. Foster carers should note how school or college is going. They should record the highlights and difficulties. If homework has been set, has it been completed? Is any extra support needed? If the child is not in education (e.g., due to illness, exclusion, etc) foster carers should detail and include date/s.
• Health. If there are health concerns, foster carers would need to record these and list actions they have taken. This should include GP, dentist, optician and other health appointments, accidents, illness, injuries and infectious diseases. If medication is prescribed/given, foster carers need to state name of medication and dosage amount given.
• Emotional and behavioural development. foster carers must record whether there are any behavioural difficulties, and the strategies they are using to manage them. Is the child showing signs of healthy emotional development or might extra support might be needed? There are robust processes in place to capture and examine any instances where physical intervention, e.g., restraint has been necessary.
• Identity. Foster carers need to consider how children feel about themselves.  Do you think they have good self-esteem? What might be affecting this? Are there any particular cultural needs or extra needs that have to be addressed?
• Family and Social Relationships. Some children in foster care can struggle with relationships so it’s a good measure of their progress and an important identifier of their needs to understand how they respond to family contact and how positive their peer relationships are.
• Social Skills and Involvement. Has the child been to any clubs or taken part in any interests or hobbies this week? Is there anything that they have expressed an interest in? It’s important to note any concerns that the foster carer has and what they might be able to do to help.
• Self-Care skills. An important role of the foster carer is to support children to develop life skills. Is the child able to do age-appropriate things for themselves? If not, how can the foster carer help them to develop?
• Personal Items. Foster carers should record what they have bought for the child: Clothes, toys, or personal items. How much pocket money did they get this week? How much savings were put aside this week? This ensures that carers are accountable for using the allowance they receive to respond to the material needs of the child.
• Safe Caring. Carers must record any child protection concerns they may have. Is it possible that the child is being bullied? Have there been any allegations made by the child or has anything happened or been said that concerns you as a foster carer?
• Carers also must record If a child/young person went missing/absconded/unauthorised absence, a serious offence by or against a child/young person or incident involving police to the home, and if a complaint is made by or concerning the child.

It sounds like foster carers are expected to do a lot! How do they remember everything?

One big advantage of producing detailed, positive and truthful records is that they allow foster carers time and space to reflect. Sometimes the very act of writing down what is happening can afford carers perspective on the situation and enable creativity in their strategies. It can also be therapeutic when things are tricky. Keeping records also allows foster carers to keep sight of progress and maintain positivity.

Many foster carers find that keeping a daily journal or diary helps them to remember everything and is used as a reference tool when writing up the weekly records. The daily journal can help the carers to note and process their own emotions and reactions to circumstances and is a valuable coping strategy. Whilst everything that is written in the daily journal won’t be appropriate for a record keeping on the child, it is a useful exercise for foster carers.

Striking the right tone.

Foster carers, like any other human, sometimes feel frustrated, angry, hurt and demotivated. It is really important that foster carers are able to separate and process their own feelings and reactions so that they can report professionally and factually.

Being self-aware and seeking support from your fostering team is important as it allows you to vent and process.

Before sitting down to write recordings, many foster carers find it useful to imagine their child reading them (which of course they may well one day want to). Recordings should be factual and observational and should not be peppered with personal opinion or judgements. Carers may well have an idea of what is behind behaviour and can express these opinions and strategies they are considering, after all they often know the child best. However, it is important that recordings are non-judgmental and well balanced.

For more information on what it takes to be a foster carer, we have lots of resources on our website. You can look us up on Facebook or contact us with your questions.

The post Fostering good habits: the importance of record keeping in fostering. appeared first on Eastern Fostering Services.