At OwnLife Fostering, we work closely with our foster parents and foster carer applicants to help guide them through their fostering journey. Perhaps you are yet to join us and are interested in learning more about what fostering children and young people might entail. The first step in the fostering journey is understanding exactly what foster care is and why…
When you start the process to become a foster carer you will have a training programme that provides you with the knowledge and necessary skills to foster children and young people. These training sessions are ongoing throughout the career of a foster carer with individual personal and professional development training plans put on place. Since COVID-19, our training model…
In our ‘5 minutes with’ column, we chat with new foster carer Doreen who gives insight into her inspiration to become a foster carer and what the fostering assessment process is like. If you’ve been interested in becoming a foster carer then this is a must read for background on the key steps in the application process, and the commitment…
Finding things to do in the holidays to keep kids occupied and ensuring they can have fun at an affordable price is hard enough. But now there is the even harder task of keeping children entertained under the restraints of COVID-19. All concerns surrounding this are completely valid and we understand that parents and foster carers everywhere may be stressed…
A key part of a foster carer’s role is ongoing development. Foster carers will regularly attend training courses as it’s a requirement to evidence all new skills. Initially foster carers will take courses to understand the role as well as the principles and values in fostering. These will cover topics such as: Communication Child development Diversity and identity Health and…
This year’s Care Day takes place on 19 February 2021. Whilst we celebrate the keyworkers and children in the foster care community every day, having a national day dedicated to this important sector helps to spread the message much wider. It sheds light on the work of foster carers and the achievements of children and young people in their care.…
We thought we’d gather together a few reasons why foster carers chose the career path to give you insight into this important keyworker role. After last year, many people have started to have thoughts about their current job and circumstances which has led them to search for a role with meaning. People have placed a lot more focus on supporting…
There’s no doubt that 2020 has been a challenge. However, if there’s a positive to stem from this year it is the sense of community we have witnessed. From the inspiring images of clapping for the NHS, to assisting neighbours with their food shop, and appreciating the socially distanced cups of tea with friends and family. The start of 2021…
Many of the young people in foster care are teenagers. This requires a special individual to provide the right care and support. To be a good foster carer is about being empathetic, understanding and caring as well as good communication skills to help a teenager develop. The life experiences foster carers have can help guide an individual to make the…
The decision to become a foster carer is a long process. It’s a commitment from the first moment you think that it could be the career for you. Then you take time to research and make enquiries with fostering agencies to discuss further. If you’re one of these people that have just started the journey of this thought process then…