Blogs
For anyone who is thinking about being a foster carer the question of whether they would be willing to look after a child with significant special needs is a question they will have to grapple with. For some it will be an easy answer – they may have experience with their birth children or in the workplace of working with children with special needs; but for others it will take more thinking through. What is clear is that with the number of children who need a foster family growing – around 70 per cent of whom have special needs - and with the increasing need for more foster families (The Fostering Network has released figures reporting that 9,070 new foster families are needed in 2016), the question of whether or not a prospective foster carer feels they have the skills and qualities needed to look after a child with special needs is becoming ever more important.
By Foster Care Fortnight on May 13th, 2016
Foster carers do a fantastic job transforming the lives of many children and young people that they care for – but foster care also transforms the lives of many foster carers and their families.
By Foster Care Fortnight on May 13th, 2016
The sun is out and the birds are singing, and The Fostering Network continues campaigning with a spring in our step.
By Policy and Campaigns tFN on May 12th, 2016
Following from my last blog about what exactly a teenager is, let’s look at the basic dos and don’ts – the golden rules – for managing pre-teen and early teen behaviour.
By Cathy Glass on May 4th, 2016
It’s a beautiful, sunny Wednesday morning. We’re suited and booted and on our way to panel to be approved as foster carers. We’re meeting Stef (our Form F assessor) at a café near to where the panel is taking place, to have a little run through the potential questions we can expect.
As someone who has served on the panel, I have a view on the questions I might have asked us if the roles were reversed. And I have a plan.
By Lucy Stevens on April 27th, 2016
If you’ve been following my blog you’ll know that my husband and I are going to panel to be approved as foster carers on 20th April (or not as the case may be).
By Lucy Stevens on April 14th, 2016
Recently I was asked to contribute to a workshop on fostering teenagers, of which I’ve had quite a bit of experience. I thought it might be useful to share some of it, especially if you haven’t had much experience of this age group.
By Cathy Glass on April 8th, 2016
It’s Friday evening. In the dining room there are four very noisy, very excited boys getting stuck into their sleepover fun. They are shrieking at each other, their mouths open to reveal half masticated hotdog as they discuss the merits of the caterpillar game (a pursuit involving sleeping bags and a staircase). I wonder whether it was such a great idea to suggest tonight as the night to sign off our Form F assessment with our assessor Stef. But anyway it’s too late; Stef arrives at the peak of the children’s excitement.
By Lucy Stevens on March 21st, 2016
Today we're discussing Personal Education Plans, pupil premium plus and special educational needs.
By Emily Hall on March 21st, 2016
Welcome to the ninth edition of our Head, Heart, Hands newsletter.
By Freya Burley on March 18th, 2016
