Fostering Blog. Hobbies. So James (name changed) has a new hobby! I was sitting in my lounge watching one of the cooking programmes, as a break from football, when James came into the room, after a bath. He said that he enjoyed watching the cooking programmes. I asked if he ever cooked at home but ..read more

Fostering Blog Social Workers Social Workers, don’t you just love them? Being a Foster Carer means you get involved with all sorts of Social Workers, from the excellent to the ‘oh my god how did you ever qualify?’ If you are working with the excellent ones then it makes life, and the placement, so much ..read more

Fostering Blog 14/07 So today was the day that James (name changed) was due to return to his Mum’s. I did wonder if he would be a bit down or a bit reflective but he woke up in a good mood and ate his breakfast. I asked if he wanted to go out but he ..read more

Fostering Blog 09-07 Well James (name changed) enjoyed his shopping. 5 tee shirts, a hoodie and a pair of jogging bottoms later we headed back to the car for a quick visit to Primark for underwear and socks. Happily sorted and somewhat lighter in the pocket, we headed home for dinner. So we now seem ..read more

Emma’s Fostering Blog. Rhianna. Rhianna was 11, refused to go to School, now permanently excluded, she had disrupted every class and her learning and social skills were poor; I was even refused 6 hours a week respite!  She was challenging and complex and was reported as ‘missing’ from Foster care.  Rhianna wore her hoody down […] The post Rhianna appeared first on Fostering Application Service | Apply For Fostering Children ..read more

Emma’s Fostering Blogs. New Carers. As new carers we were resilient and determined to do our job well and make a big difference, but it wasn’t easy, we went through tough times and were tested to breaking point on many occasions. We welcomed Jessica aged 7 to our home it seemed nothing was positive on […] The post New carers appeared first on Fostering Application Service | Apply For Fostering Children ..read more

Emma’s Fostering Blogs. Emotions. Emotionally being a Foster carer is challenging, even as you vow never to take in another child, never to allow yourself to become so involved again, having to face the heartbreak of giving them up – we pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and carry on, then you wait for a […] The post Emotions appeared first on Fostering Application Service | Apply For Fostering Children ..read more

Emma’s Fostering Blog. Care experienced. We can help change the problems currently in the system by listening to children, young people and care experienced people, and this can be a powerful force for change. I know from my young people they want to challenge the stigma of being ‘Looked After’ and all the labels that […] The post Care experienced appeared first on Fostering Application Service | Apply For Fostering Children ..read more

Emma’s Fostering Blog. Matching. It’s been a couple of months and I am waiting to welcome another child into our home – its Friday almost 4pm, there is a phone call from the duty Social worker. I’m not excited about this call as she is trying to place children on a Friday, it feels desperate, […] The post Fostering Blogs | Matching appeared first on Fostering Application Service | Apply For Fostering Children ..read more

Emma’s Fostering Blog. School. There are a number of challenges working with many mainstream Schools, there is not enough support or understanding. There seems to be a lack of clarity about roles, a lack of information sharing and poor communication and this can be really difficult when we have a child who is not achieving. […] The post School appeared first on Fostering Application Service | Apply For Fostering Children ..read more