Foster care with Medway Council

SPONSORED EDITORIAL

Fostering a child can be one of the most rewarding things you do.

It doesn’t mean to say it will always be easy but helping to provide a stable family home can transform a child’s life long-term.

Foster carers look after children when their parents aren’t able to or they can’t live with their own families.

Starting the fostering process may seem like a daunting step but you won’t be on your own.

You’ll feel supported. There’s lots of helpful information, one-to-one support and guidance along the way so if you're not sure about something there will always be help on hand.

From the moment you sign up and all the way through your placements, there will be dedicated professionals available to give you support and training.

Fostering with Medway Council provide a package of training and support. It includes:

• Access to a big, friendly team 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• A dedicated peer mentor
• Professionally qualified, named supervising social worker for contact and support,
• Support groups and foster care lunches
• Access to the Medway Foster Carer Association who represent the voices of foster carers who meet with Medway Council on a regular basis
• Paid membership of Foster Talk
• A panel meeting every six months in the role to make sure you’re being supported
• Access to a specialist parent-child worker
• Access to innovative training techniques, including our Video Interactive Guidance
• Help to complete your TSD portfolio (training, support and development standards for foster carers)

Could I be a foster carer?

Firstly it’s important that you’re passionate about wanting to give children the best start in life.

There is no typical foster carer. Just like the children foster carers look after, they come from all walks of life.

You’ll need to be over the age of 21 and have a spare bedroom in the house. You’ll need to have enthusiasm, patience and be able to stay calm in difficult situations.

Good listening skills are key, as well as being a caring person - you’ll need to empathise as a child may have had a difficult upbringing or start in life.

If you’re thinking about fostering, professional but friendly advice is available around the clock from the team at Medway Council.

Being a foster carer

As a foster carer you’ll turn your hand to many things, but your main job will be to make sure your children are happy and healthy.

This will include taking them to school, cooking meals, taking them for days out, encouraging their hobbies and interests.

Giving them attention and time, making them feel safe and secure and making them smile and being there when they’re sad.

Teaching and showing them new things in life and registering them with the dentist and doctor.

Go to www.medway.gov.uk/fostering or call 01634 335726 for more info