Bristol Fostering

Hello! For those of you unfamiliar, I offer respite foster carer and cover emergencies. Respite 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 placements are where Social Services phone you and ask you to take a child that night for at least one night. I've done this a few times and least notice I've had is 30mins and most 5hrs. A couple of these kids have stayed just one night; longest was five nights. I've decided to start twice a month keeping a diary of my fostering experiences as such a carer. Monday - no kids! So I'm available to foster all this week but so far have nothing planned for Mon-Th but a respite placement scheduled for the weekend. So Monday I get on with the mundane really. Cleaning, sorting, tidying etc. My social worker emails during the day and asks if I have any ideas for the upcoming family fun day in July

Hello! For those of you unfamiliar, I offer respite foster carer and cover emergencies. I also work two jobs, have a lot of cats and a wild garden. Respite 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 placements are where Social Services phone you and ask you to take a child that night for at least one night. I've done this a few times and least notice I've had is 30mins and most 5hrs. A couple of these kids have stayed just one night; longest was five nights. I've decided to start twice a month keeping a diary of my fostering experiences as such a carer. Monday - no kids! Although its a Bank Holiday I am available for fostering but no one asks me so I have the day to myself, except I feel awful. I've come off of nightshifts with a stinking headache. I get some stuff done of use but not a lot. I have Lilo and Stitch at the we

With foster care, should the child wish to, and it be in their best interest, then they may have contact with their family members. This is simply known as 'contact' but it varies wildly. Depending on the status of the child in care, it can be anything from twice weekly in person to once a year via the post. It can be anything in between too. If you're a respite carer you are unlikely to experience contact as it will usually be held when the child is with their main carer. Though it can happen. Contact can be: On the telephone 'Letterbox' - sending letters or parcels to each other, often via a social worker Face to face in the parents home or a trip out or even after school at play club At a contact centre - these are usually for more 'tricky' parents who need full supervision to be with their child. Often you drop the child off, go away for the duration then pick them up, and never see the parent/they dont see you. Contact doesn't hav

Whenever a child comes to stay, you, as the adult in the situation, get nervous. Nervous about meeting them, whether they'll like you or not, how they'll get on with your pets and more besides. If you're nervous, imagine how the child feels. One way you can help them settle down is to make their room comfortable for them. Even if the child is staying just one night, I still recommend tailoring a room to the child if at all possible. Below are some of my tips for making a room more child friendly. Mind these are my views and not everyone is the same. Also different children would benefit from varying things, and what you provide them may depend on how long the child will be staying with you. Note some children will come into your care with lots of belongings, and some with almost none. Generally emergency kids come with the least. However whatever possessions they come with do treasure them. Whether that be a family photo or a teddy bear that really stinks. If I&#