What is a foster carer?

Foster carers are people who want to help look after you, while you are unable to stay with your family.  They will do all they can to help you feel safe and cared for while you are away from your family.  They will listen to what you want and help you stay in touch with your family and friends.

Everyone in Children’s Services will help your foster carers to look after you properly.

The foster care team prepare, train and supervise our foster carers so they can look after you properly.  They and your social worker are part of children’s services and will work with you and your family to give you the best care that they can.

What to expect when you are fostered.

You have the right…

• Not to be spoken to in a nasty or hurtful way
• Not to be made to feel bad about yourself
• Not to be hurt in any way
• To be talked to and listened to about plans or decisions made about you
• To be helped in talking about your wishes and feelings
• To be offered the right sort of school and play activities
• To be helped to keep in touch with all important people in your life .The only exceptions may be if someone has to be with you when you meet with family (called supervised contact) or where we think that contact may be unsafe for you
• To make a complaint. You can do this yourself or get someone to do this for you. This will be sorted out quickly.
• To ask for, or approach an Independent Advocate for advice and support. They will talk to people on your behalf if you want them to. The names and numbers are on the back of this leaflet.
• You have the right to feel safe and comfortable.

Some Frequently Asked Questions:

What happens when I go to live with my carer?

Answer

It is scary going to live with strangers. All families are different, so you will feel strange at first. Foster carers understand this and will do their best to make you feel welcome and comfortable.

Tell them how you feel and what you do and do not like. Ask them questions e.g. do I get pocket money? Can I choose what to eat? Can I use the phone?

Foster carers will tell you the rules and routines in their house so you know what to expect. Do not worry if people make mistakes. It will take a little time to get used to each other and work things out together.

Foster carers receive information about you and your family so they know something about you. They will welcome you bringing your favourite and familiar things with you. We try and choose a foster family that is as close to your family as possible. We want you to have as much contact with your family and friends as you can. It would be good if you could carry on with the same clubs, youth clubs, etc.

What if I am not happy with my care?

Answer

Please try to talk to your foster carer first. Questions and worries can usually be sorted out easily. If this is not possible, talk to your social worker.

You may want to make a complaint about Children’s Services, Education, the Health Service or other things. Your foster carer can help you sort out how to go about this, or may be able to act for you.

How can I find out more?

Answer

Children and Young People's Statements of Purpose

Northumberland have produced two guides for children who are looked after by our foster carers. One is for children aged under ten years old and the other is for children and young people aged ten years and older. They aim to tell you about:

• foster care
• what to expect
• what help you can get

 

Please also have a look at our Children and Young People's Statements of Purpose.

Our Promise – Northumberland’s Pledge to Looked after Children

We, Northumberland County Council, aim to offer all of the services and support needed by children and young people in our care.  We have developed this promise to you based on:

• The importance of stable relationships
• The need for your voice to be heard
• The importance of having high aspirations for your future

For a website just for Northumberland looked after children and young people, click on the link below.

www.voicesmakingchoices.org.uk

Young people’s involvement in recruitment

Looked-After young people are becoming more and more involved in the recruitment of foster carers, including talking to people in the community at our information evenings and taking part in staff interviews.  Rachael and Simon also joined the ‘skills to foster’ course – the training that prospective foster carers complete before beginning their formal fostering assessment. They tell us how they found their experience.