Page 28 - Federation magazine: April / May 2017

Could you be As long as you have permission from your
a foster carer? landlord to foster then you can be in rented
accommodation.
Are you retiring from the police service through difficult times, providing a warm,
or considering a career change? stable and caring home. If you can be a good You also don’t need to have children of
Would you like a new role that listener, show resilience, be flexible and your own to be a good foster carer. Any time
spent caring for nieces or nephews or
rewards as much as it challenges? optimistic and be a great role model, then working or volunteering with children is all
valuable experience. You can also have pets
As experienced and skilled police officers fostering may be for you. in your home and we include these as part
of our assessment so that everyone in the
you may already have many of the qualities There are many myths about who can household is ready to foster!

that would help you to be a great foster foster and many people rule themselves out If you are retiring from the police service
or considering a career change, then why
carer. Are you a good listener, able to show before finding out more. The fact is lots of not find out more about fostering? Just
picking up the phone could set you on an
resilience, be flexible and optimistic and be a people can become great foster carers. There exciting new career path. There’s lots of
training and support available to help build
great role model? Then fostering could be is no upper age limit to becoming a foster upon your existing skills and knowledge,
competitive fees and allowances and a job
right for you. carer, so as long as you’re fit and able to care role that can reward like no other.

Walsall Council urgently needs caring for a child there is no official age where you Coming along to an information session
is the best way to find out more. Dates for
supportive homes for children of different are ‘too old’. Walsall Council’s information sessions can
be found at www.fosteringinwalsall.co.uk
ages and backgrounds, particularly sibling Foster carers come from all walks of life;
Find us on Facebook: fosteringinwalsall
groups, older children and teenagers. all ethnicities and backgrounds. Married or on Twitter @fosteringwalsal

Children can come into the care of the couples, single people, those living with a You can also call the Fostering Team on
0800 923 3706 or email fosteringinwalsall@
local authority for many different reasons. partner and people from the LGBT walsall.gov.uk for more information.

Some will stay for a few weeks, some will community can all apply to become foster Can I foster?
You will need:
stay longer, and some may even be cared for carers. l A spare room available for each child you

into their adult years. Although you do need to provide a wish to foster.
l Time available to care for, and meet the
The one thing they all share is that they bedroom for each child you care for, you
needs of, a young person.
“need foster families who can support them don’t need to own your own home to foster. l To be able to drive, or be able to
Being a foster family is an amazing opportunity
to make a positive change in a young person’s transport a child to school or to
life. You are the one who can show the light in appointments etc.
the dark for these children. “ l A good level of written and spoken
English.
Irene, foster carer.

28 federation April/May 2017 www.westmidspolfed.com