Bristol Fostering

Unfortunately not every day of fostering is a good day. Some kids you look after are troubled, and need extra guidance. Sometimes you, as the carer, do everything right, and things still go wrong. We have a kid at the mo who is into knife crime. Like all carers our knives and other dangerous items are locked away, and boundaries and rules have been set to minimise the risk to ourselves. But despite that, they still managed to steal some knives over the weekend then took them to school. They will be sanctioned by social services and there will be negative consequences. However what's more important to us, is getting this kid back on the right path. Why did they steal? What did they think they were going to do with the weapons? Why do they think they need them? What are the alternatives? How can we help them escape crime and point them in the right direction? These are big questions, and there will be a series of small steps put in place to hopefully turn them around. T

Gangs. It's such a loaded word. And for good reason. We hear on the news about knife gangs, moped gangs, gangs 'roaming the streets'. but what's it like in reality? How does it feel to know a child you look after is getting sucked into one? There are many people looking after a child in care, not just their foster carer and social worker, and even with all that support they can still get sucked in, especially if they're vulnerable. Gangs, whether 'serious' or violent, or just 'a bit of fun', give a sense of belonging and comfort that a vulnerable child may be seeking. A child we sometimes look after is involved in gangs, at a low level. They know the negative and serious consequences of their invovlement, but you can't watch a child all the time. You can't shut them in and protect them 24/7. Ultimately, sometimes all you can do is guide and advise, set boundaries and hope they pull through. Sounds like giving up, but if you're

You grieve, your pets grieve. Your social worker offers a sympathetic smile. 'No one's died' she jokes. But to you, you have still lost a child. You may have only known that child for a few days. Or perhaps they stayed with you a decade. Regardless of the length of time you grieve for that child. You miss them. Even if they've left you for a positive reason, such as adoption, or going home to mum and dad, you really do miss them. You may not realise you do. But a month after they've left you find yourself wondering what they're doing right now. Are they still in school? Have they gotten their girlfriend pregnant? - that pretty young thing he was talking about. Is there football injury on the mend? Do they still fight with their little sister? You may have a few mementos. Perhaps pictures they've drawn stuck to the fridge door, or broken toy you never got round to fixing. When they packed their bag perhaps they forgot a tshirt. When your next chil

Most kids love fun days out and trips. Whether your own kids, your little nieces and nephews, your foster kids, and their friends, having a day trip out can be special and really fun. A reward for being good all week or a birthday treat. Taking your foster kids out can be both rewarding and terrifying as the foster parent especially the first time. You worry, perhaps over-worry. How will they react to strangers? Are they good in social situations? If they were previously subject to grooming will a special treat appear in their eyes similar to the treats they were groomed with? Do they even know how to play? Many kids who come into care haven't had a proper childhood, so going out for a treat, even just to the park, might seem strange to them, let alone going to a 'big' treat like the zoo. We've all made mistakes. One of mine at the very beginning was taking two respite children (that I was having for two days) out to an activity centre where the children were gi

Got a burning question about fostering? Anxious about an issue? Below are some Q&As we hope will help. If you have any other questions please leave a comment. Note the answers are from our experiences and there might be some slight variations nationally. Q. Do I have to own a house to foster? A. No, you can be buying or renting. Q. Do I have to have a spare room to foster? A. Yes. It's really important that the child has their own room, to give them privacy and space, and also to benefit yourself and your family. Q. Can I be LGBT+ and foster? A. Yes, of course. It would be illegal for you to be discriminated against, and your sexual orientation or gender identity are no barrier. In fact, they can a huge advantage. E.g. there could be a child scared of women, but being with a male couple would benefit them, as the child will be looked after by men. Q. Can I have a lodger and foster? A. Yes, but the lodger would have to be DBS checked and interviewed. Once you sta