Information for Foster Carers

'If you're a prospective Foster Carer looking for more information, our site should give you a real feel for fostering with Seafields!'

Can I become a Foster Carer?
Foster Carer Forum
Seafields Fostering Longevity Award
Seafields Fostering Training and Support Groups

Can I become a Foster Carer?

Many applicants have been considering fostering for some time before making the move to find out more. It is a big decision, but fostering really can make a great difference for children and young people.

Foster Carers offer children and young people a high standard of safe care and to do all they can to promote their well being. Children who are placed in foster care will have had some unhappy experiences. Many children will have come from abusive backgrounds that may have left them feeling very vulnerable.

We at Seafields are committed to providing a safe and caring environment for every child that is placed with us, for however long they remain and to do all we can to promote their well being.

We provide the opportunity for even the most challenging children in our care to achieve their full potential and to live fulfilling lives in the community.

In order to consider becoming a Foster Carer, you should know the following:-

● Your age is not a barrier, as long as you are fit and healthy
● You can be married or in a long term relationship, or indeed a single person
● Your sexual orientation is not an issue
● You can Foster if you have your own children and young people
● Your own ethnicity and religion do not exclude you from fostering, in fact we actively encourage a diversity of Foster Carers.

There are many reasons why people decide to become foster carers. All of our foster carers are committed to doing their best to help children in need. Some people simply love having children around, some foster carers view fostering as a way of making a contribution to their local community, some people recognize, perhaps through their own experiences, how important a foster carer can be to a child in need.

The most important thing we ask when considering fostering is that you have the space in your home and your family to create the right caring environment for a vulnerable child and that you genuinely care about the welfare of children. You don't need to be married or have a big house. What matters is your skills, personality and ability to understand what young people are going through and how you could help.

In recognition of the complex nature of fostering, all of our Foster Carers receive a generous allowance, which enables them to provide fully when meeting the needs of children and young people.

Foster Carer Forum

In the beginning of 2006 Seafields Fostering established a Foster Carer Forum in its Essex Regional Office which consists of duly elected members representing our Foster Carers from all of our regions of operation. The Forum is held once every three months and the Minutes are sent to all our Foster Carers for their information. We are now in the process of establishing a Forum in our other two Regional Offices.

The Foster Carers are able to bring to the Directors and Senior Management Team any issues or areas of concerns that affect all of our Foster Carers as well as recommendations and suggestions for improving standards and ways of working. We use this Forum also to discuss issues like organising social events, training.

Seafields Fostering Longevity Award

Seafields Fostering provide those Foster Carers who have been fostering for us for four years or more and have attended 80% of the training provided by Seafields Fostering an enhanced allowance of an additional £10.00 per placement per week. This is in recognition of their commitment to Seafields Fostering Limited.

Seafields Fostering Training and Support Groups

Seafields Fostering Limited provides all Foster Carers regionally, the opportunity to attend monthly support groups which are attended by both Staff and other Foster Carers within that region which are run alongside a comprehensive training programme which is planned for the year. Training offered includes topics such as

• Safe Care
• Attachment
• First Aid
• Special Guardianship

Alongside the training programme implemented each year, Seafields Fostering are committed to ensure that a rolling programme allows all its Foster Carers to have the opportunity to achieve the NVQ Level 3 in Child Care.

Click here for Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Click here for Foster Carer Application Form