Foster With Us

We are very happy that you are considering becoming a foster carer with Infinity Foster Care.

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Foster With Us

Who can Foster?

We understand that fostering a child or young person is a big decision. It can be challenging but it is immensely rewarding.

 

To become a foster carer, essentially, you need the following:

A. Personal Qualities

The key to foster care is high levels of energy coupled with commitment and a passion for working with children and young people. Foster carers are expected to be resilient and enthusiastic, willing and able to battle through the tough times.
Foster carers are expected to have good communication, and team working skills to help meet the needs of those in their care.
Fostering does require high levels of flexibility, understanding and patience.

It is not necessary to have been a parent but personal or professional experience of caring or working with children is essential.
Finally, what is most essential is your commitment to providing a safe, caring and supportive environment for children who desperately need stability in their lives.

B. Spare Bedroom

You will need at least one spare bedroom. This is a legal requirement as the child will need to have their own space and privacy while living with you. The spare bedroom must be large enough to accommodate a bed, double wardrobe, study desk and chest of drawers.

C. Accommodation

Your accommodation can be owned or rented, being furnished to a good standard and comfortable. There should be sufficient communal space to spend time as a family within your home.

D. To Commit To Fostering Full-Time

Ideally, we would like at least one person to commit full time to fostering, there are cases where it may be possible to continue working but this depends on your individual circumstances and on the needs of the foster child.

E. Single / Couples

We welcome single applicants as well as couples. If you are single, it is important that you have a good support network. Some people choose to foster after they have raised a family, whilst others like to foster alongside raising their own.

F. Unemployment / Employment

You can be looking for work or in employment. Many people choose fostering after looking for a career change or being made redundant. Fostering is a great option for those that would like to work from home.

How to become a Foster Carer

There are four stages to become a foster carer with Infinity Foster Care;

i

1. Application and Background Checks

2. Training

3. Home Visits and assessment

Z

4. Invitation to our fostering panel and approval

Lets look at each stage…

“My carer has changed my life in such a positive way. If you knew me before I went into care, and know me now, then you’d know what a difference my carer has made to my life.”

‘Sally’, Former Foster Child

1. Application and Background Checks

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To start your journey on becoming a foster carer, you will need to complete and send us your Application Form and Consent Form. We will also need you to provide us with documentation for you and your family confirming your identity and address. Once we have received this documentation, we will start to carry out statutory background checks on you and your family. These background checks include: 1. Police checks 2. Medical checks 3. Local Authority checks 4. Personal and Employment References 5. Home Health & Safety 6. School / Education checks The next stage will commence on successful clearance on background checks.

2. Training

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You will be invited to attend a “Skills to Foster” training course. This mandatory training course is an excellent opportunity for you to learn more about fostering and to meet other applicants.

3. Home Visits and Assessment

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A social worker will be appointed to be your main point of contact and to work alongside you to complete your assessment. Your social worker will visit your home usually between 6-8 times, each visit lasting up to 2 ½ hours to get to know you and your family. You will be visited once a week and hence need to make yourself available to meet the social worker. The social worker will then write a report about you, your family, your skills, previous experiences, significant events and your suitability to foster.

4. Invitation to our Fostering Panel and Approval

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Once your report has been completed, you will then be invited to attend our fostering panel meeting where your report will be presented and discussed by the panel members. The Fostering Panel is made up of independent, highly experienced health care professionals, including social workers, doctors, teachers, existing service users and foster carers. The fostering panel will then make a recommendation to the Agency Decision Maker about your suitability to foster.

Final Stage: Your Approval

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The Agency Decision Maker will then make the final decision about your approval on behalf of Infinity Foster Care. Following approval, you will be required to attend an induction training session and will be allocated a supervising social worker who will support you in your new role. The assessment process is deliberately thorough, rigorous and robust so that we are able to safeguard and achieve positive outcomes for children. It is important that children and young people remain central to our work.

Transfer To Us

Transfer To Us

If you are an experienced foster carer without a placement, then all you need to do is contact and discuss with us the reasons why you want to transfer. Once you have made up your mind about joining us, you will need to apply with us and notify your existing fostering provider. If you are an experienced foster carer with a placement, then you will need to ‘transfer’ with your current placement to us.

Why Transfer

If you feel that you are not getting the right type of placements or the support that you need, please contact us as we understand and are committed to providing you with the support that you deserve.

How To Transfer

The process is straight forward, but does involve a few additional steps like following the ‘foster carer transfer’ protocol. We are experienced in this regard and will support you all the way so as to make the move to us as easy as possible for you.

Transfer With A Child

If you already have a child in your care who is well settled, then this will remain the case. However, in the first instance, you would need to let your current agency and the local authority know about your intentions. Thereafter a meeting would be held to discuss your transfer. 

Send Details To Transfer

‘Children are at the centre of our hearts and minds’

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