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The value of respite

Fostering, it is difficult. Extremely rewarding, but just like raising any child, difficult.

We all need breaks, from work, from our loved ones, from friends and family. Just to be. Be ourselves, recharge, think, relax, and find time to ourselves.

If you foster full time this can be hard to achieve.

One way this is made possible is through respite care - this is where a child who is looked after goes to another foster carer for a short period. Usually from one day up to one week.

If you'd love to be that special person who decides to foster but cannot commit to it full time at present, perhaps because of your family or work situation, then respite could be the perfect solution for you.

Most councils or agencies are pretty flexible because they understand how vital it is to have respite carers on their books to provide their full time carers those precious opportunities to recharge. Giving a full time carer a break can make all the difference between the carer feeling positive and on top of everything and feeling tired and frazzled.

Sometimes respite is needed because the child does not want to go to a family event or on holiday with their carer. Or, because its not appropriate or suitable for the child to attend an event with their carer, for example a funeral or if their foster parent needed to visit a sick relative.

Tempted to dip your toes in the fostering pool but unsure of looking after a child full time? Or really want to foster but due to work commitments cant do so full time? Then ask about respite. Once approved you can state the days you are free with your social worker; they'll work around you. You may want to look after children three weekends a month, or one whole week and a long week each month. Great! Do it. You'll be helping to look after some of our most precious children and giving their full time carer that much needed rest.

Imagine you having a real tough time at work. Not because anything 'wrong' has happened, but your just busy. And your tired, and you've not had a holiday day in months. Then your boss taps you on the shoulder and says 'do you fancy taking Friday afternoon off?' You'd jump at it. Those precious extra few hours can make all the difference to your well being and next time you come into work your recharged and raring to go.

Imagine then that you can provide that time off to a full time carer. That full time carer is not someone working a mundane office job. They're doing one of the best jobs out there, but it is demanding, and to keep them in tip top form, affording them breaks is vital.

So you don't have to be a full time carer to make a huge impact in fostering.

They say it takes a whole village to raise a child.

I would shout out 'yes' to this comment if I wasn't sat at work writing this.

Interested in becoming an essential respite carer? Contact your local council or provider...


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

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

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