Is there anyone out there who is a foster carer?  My OH and I have been considering fostering for a while, but don't really know what is involved and what would be expected of us.  We have two spare bedrooms and I am at home all the time.  We both have children but none live with us.  I also worry that I will become attached to a child, only for it to be moved on at some point, so I worry we wouldn't be suitable for that reason.  Any comments?

I don't foster but do work with children who are fostered - now called Looked After Children.  Your local social services office should be able to provide you with details on fostering and if you look in your local phone directory you should be able to find phone numbers for fostering agencies in your area.

Also a google search will throw up lots of sites which will give you an insight into fostering.

I personally believe that fostering is more than just a job and it takes a special type of person to be an excellent carer. At times it can be very difficult but can have immense emotional rewards as well.

Good luck with your research. :)

Hi

Where going through the fostering and adoption process now, a great site is www.adoptionuk.org it is fantastic for asking questions :-)

my mum fostered for a few years before adopting 2 of the girls she was fostering, the whole process takes a while i think it took about 6 months before my mum went to panel, what with all the training and checks etc, i dont remember much of it all as it was a few years ago now but i may be able to help

tanya

It was suggested as a midwife with a young child I should apply to foster babies waiting to go for adoption but my Mum said I'd get very upset after 6 weeks to have to give them up to the adoptive parents having done all the hard work of getting them to sleep through the night and them just starting to smile. I hadn't thought about that side of things,my health visitor said I was a natural with babies and they were crying out for folk with the right capabilities.

I did look into it further,but going through a messy divorce was enough to cope with,shortly afterwards I moved nearer my parents and started looking for work in the nursing proffession. That was 24 yrs ago now.

Rhona

My friend  does it, I have so much admiration for her and OH, they are completley selfless, and so child caring. Thay have had all age groups and all kind of problems BUT if you are parents already I think you probasbly are very aware of what can be thrown at you any way. I would be more worried about not being able to take to a child than becoming too attached, I suppose that sounds terrible but I generally love all kids and cant imagine how I would feel about one I didn't take to!
I say good luck and go for it, there are so many children out there so desperate for a little love and attention.
Karen ;-)

I think fostering is a fantastic thought and have so much respect for people that can do it.  I have suggested this myself in the past but due to my husbands occupation he sees too many of the failures.  Not all the children are in that situation through no fault of their own - there are many that can be abusive, violent, thieves, addicts - or whose family members might be and they still have contact with them.  I think you have to prepare yourself for all eventualities - you may never have any children with these issues, you may have them and turn them around or you may have them and just not be able to help no matter how hard you try.  Personally I think you are fantastic for considering it and hope if you do go ahead all works well.  Like I said it is my husbands occupation that brings him into contact with some of the sadder more unfortunate cases and unfortunately none of the success stories.  Best wishes, Maxine.