Children become fostered or “looked after” for a number of complex reasons. Sometimes their parents no longer feel able to care for them or they are not well enough to look after them anymore. Often children can no longer live with their birth parents because they have been exposed to trauma, harm or neglect.
Sometimes a serious incident may result in the Local Authority removing a child immediately due to risk. More often there have been long-standing concerns about a child’s safety and development before action is taken.
Removing a child from their birth family is always the last resort, but when this happens it may mean the child has already experienced significant harm and uncertainty.
We don’t always know everything about a child when they first become looked after or how they might respond to leaving their birth family or moving home, but we always try to share as much information as we can so you are prepared. Children will often feel upset, angry, confused and scared, which can be challenging to manage.
At FIT, we believe with patience, love, acceptance, consistent care and empathy, we can help children come to terms with what has happened, maintain their connections to their past, and build a new future.
We promote a therapeutic approach to parenting, but also recognise that this does not work for every foster parent or every child and we encourage foster parents to adapt and be flexible to find an approach that works for both them and the child. Through fostering, children can learn to appreciate safety, enjoy new opportunities, to trust, depend on others and build lasting relationships. We want to help you and your family to discover how rewarding fostering can be.
In summary…
Children need safety
Many children become fostered after experiencing trauma, abuse or neglect. They react to this in different ways, which can be challenging.
Families are needed
The number of available foster families is declining and fewer children are able to live within family home environments in which they can thrive.
We want to help
We want to improve the conditions of foster parents to encourage more families to foster so more children can continue to live and grow up within a family home.
We adapt our support and training according to the needs of each child and foster family to provide a holistic approach ensuring all household members are comfortable and safe.
Fostering offers children the chance to grow up in a stable family home environment.
At FIT, our foster parents are part of our team working together supporting children to reach their potential.