How will fostering affect my family?

Fostering can be beneficial to families in many ways, but there are also risks if fostering families aren’t supported appropriately by their fostering provider.

Developing empathy and patience

Most people do not know or understand the levels of harm that some children are subjected to and also most people don’t understand how high levels of harm can affect children. Foster carers come to understand both of these and subsequently, it should increase the empathy and patience levels of the fostering family.

It’s imperative that foster carers are giving regular high quality supervision and training so that they are able to understand how trauma can affect the behaviour of children.

Giving the family purpose and a meaningful life

At Sparks Fostering we believe that any contribution to society is valued and meaningful; however, there are few things that can be as meaningful as giving a home, safety and love to a child who is recovering from trauma.

Fostering can be challenging at times, particularly for foster carers who look after children with complex needs; however, foster carers embrace the role because it adds meaning and purpose to their lives. Foster carers should be supported and reassured by a fostering provider who acknowledges and celebrates the good work of foster carers, so that foster carers are able to maximise their enjoyment of the fostering role.

Enjoying the company and activity of children in the home

Children who are looked after in fostering homes can bring the same joy, affection and activity to the home that carers own children bring. The relationship between carers and the children also grows over time and many foster carers come to love the children who are fostered like they love their own children.

Other children in the home can also benefit from the company and care of children who are fostered; indeed, they can grow to build sibling-like relationships if their relationship is appropriately supported. Unfortunately, all too often foster carer’s own children aren’t supported by fostering services so if they struggle, it may not be noticed and acted upon. At Sparks Fostering, the social workers regularly check in with the carers own children to ensure that they are also benefiting from being in a fostering household.

Financial support

Sparks Fostering gives some of the highest fees of all fostering providers. The reason for this is so that the children who are fostered are supported to engage in as many activities as possible and all their financial needs are met comfortably.

Furthermore, Sparks Fostering gives foster carers fees to cover the professional aspects of the work, such as record keeping, attending meetings and completing training. The fees for the professional aspects of the work often allows foster carers to cut back or leave their previous work so that they can fully focus on the fostering role without worrying about maintaining the lifestyle of the household.