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Week in the life of a foster carer 25


Hello!

 For those of you unfamiliar, I offer shared foster care and cover emergencies.

Shared care is where you give either another foster carer or a child's family a break by having their child for usually 1-7 nights, quite often just one or two nights.

 Emergency care are where Social Services phone you and ask you to take a child that night for at least one night. I've done this over a dozen times and least notice I've had is 15mins and most 7hrs. Some of these kids have stayed just one night; longest was 21 nights.

I've looked after 25 kids to date.

Monday -kids!

I still have Kenneth with me but only for one more complete day as tomorrow he is going to a different carer for Christmas as I'm away. His social worker emails me first thing in the morning asking if she can visit as she wants to check in on him. It's totally fine so I say yes.

In the meantime we have a few things to do. When his social worker pops by he's not phased and chats to her for a bit. I chat to her on my own afterwards. She leaves him a booklet to help understand what is going on with his situation.

Rest of the day is all good.

Tuesday - kids!

Kenneth is going to another carer in the afternoon but two things. He's very excited and can't read the time, so even though I've said he's not being collected until 2pm, at 9am he is fully packed and waiting by the door.  I do double check what he's packed to ensure he has what he needs for his mini trip to another carer.

We play games until two but he's quite impatient to leave. When he does I have a couple of hours to work before I leave myself to get a train to my family home for Christmas.

In the evening I get a text to let me know that Kenneth is doing well.



All the best, BF

 NB Bristol Fostering is a personal blog and not affiliated with any fostering agency. The author just happens to be a foster carer in Bristol, UK

 We do recommend Bristol Council though as they're fab. Bristol Council fostering inquiry form

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