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Fostering
Welcome, thank you for your interest
Sadly each year there are many children and young people in
Redbridge who cannot live at home with their parents or a
guardian.
This may be for a number of reasons but in every case the
Fostering Team tries to find them a suitable family setting as
close to their own as possible.
In order to achieve
this we need a constant supply of local people from all
backgrounds, cultures and ethnic groups who are willing to take on
the task of caring for somebody else's child.
There is no doubt that fostering a child or young person is a
difficult task, but at the same time very rewarding.
If you can provide a safe, secure and loving family home
environment, you could foster a child or young person.
If you think that that's you, we would love to hear from
you.
We need more foster parents in Redbridge. We offer personal
and professional development, support, and an excellent financial
package to help foster parents.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take?
Every situation is different, but on average
from the initial home visit to approval at panel the length of time
is usually 6 months.
Am I too old?
As long as you possess the necessary skills,
you can become a Foster Parent.
Will I meet the child’s parents?
A foster child’s parents are very important to
them and one of the first considerations when a child is placed
with you is what contact there will be with family and
friends. As well as the child’s parents you will also be
working with many other people, including social workers, health
professionals and education specialists.
What do I do if there is a problem after working hours?
We provide an ‘out of hours’ Emergency Duty
Team. You will be given their number and will be able to
contact them. You should ask EDT to contact the Fostering
Services Manager so that a member of the team can contact you as
soon as possible.
Will my sexuality stop me from becoming a foster parent?
No. Our aim is to provide children with
the best possible life chances and that means offering the
opportunity to foster from diverse backgrounds. There are
many qualities that people bring to parenting and we are interested
in your ability to provide a loving, stable home to a child.
Have all the children needing foster care been abused or
neglected?
No not necessarily. However, most
children will be experiencing a period of uncertainty or may be
going through a family crisis. Moving into a strange house
may be upsetting and worrying for some and each child will have
been affected by separation and loss. Foster parents
need to be sensitive and understanding to the child’s needs.
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