What is Fostering a Parent & Child?
A specialist placement for new parents to develop their skills, in a safe family environment for both them and their children.
This could be a mother or father and a child, multiple children or mother and father with multiple children – there is no rule on what combination of people requires a parent and child placement.
The reasons why people require parent and child placements are plentiful, they could be young parents with concerns about their capabilities to care for themselves with a new baby to adults with disabilities who need time and attention to ensure the child is cared for appropriately.
As with teenagers, there are so many aspects of fostering older people that can be incredibly rewarding and parent and child placements are no different. Enabling a parent to develop bonds with their child is possibly the most rewarding of them all. A child is always best kept with the birth family and facilitating an environment where time, love and energy can be focussed on developing a relationship with your support is a hugely important service that The CFT is proud to support.
Your time will be spent coaching and mentoring the parents with us, rather than the children alone. Each case is unique so levels of support may vary, you may be tasked with more hands-on care for the child depending on the concerns and capabilities of the parent also in your care, you may just provide a supportive and reassuring presence so that the parents can develop their skills under your supervision.
Outcomes of fostering a parent & child
You will supply a safe and caring environment for the most vulnerable parents in the country. The placements are defined by a set period but can be extended if the parent thinks it is necessary.
After the placement duration has elapsed ideally, the families you take in will remain together and move on from your home into a world of independence that you’ve prepared them for.
The biggest outcome is developing confidence in the parent’s ability to make the correct decisions for their family. A lot of the time self-esteem is low and building this up is fundamental to a successful placement, fostering a lack of judgment, building trust and knowing when/how to step in is crucial to enabling a parent and child to make that step into independent living.
Make an enquiry!
Become a foster carer