FAQ about Children and Young People

FAQ about the Children and Young People

• How much will I know about the child or young person before they are placed with me?

  We always try to ensure that we obtain as much information as possible at referral stage, including any risks which may be present, in order to properly match your household with the child.

  We pass on to our carers ALL the information about them, and their background we are able to gather at referral stage including any difficult behaviour and how to manage it.  We will discuss with you and sort through all the 'what if's', in order for you to make a considered decision as to whether to take this placement into your home.  We will provide you with as much information about the young person and their background as possible.

  NEWFOCAS rarely accepts emergency placements so you would normally receive comprehensive information upon which to base your decision to accept a particular foster placement.  In the rare case you are asked to take on an emergency placement, which sometime arise where a child is in magistrates court or custody and cannot go home, NEWFOCAS would not accept such a placement without a comprehensive risk assessment having been carried out.

   

  
  

• Can I choose which age group or sex I would prefer to foster?

  Yes, you can.  NEWFOCAS receives referrals for children in all age groups, including babies and their adult parents.  You will need to give some thought to your own household makeup and what age range and gender you think will fit in best.

  Our staff are there to help you make this decision and during the assessment they will explore with you what would be best in your particular circumstances.

  Please bear in mind that any child referred, whatever their age, brings unique experiences and frequently, because of these experiences their chronological age may not be how they actually behave.

  Children and young people taken into care can be anything from 0 - 18 years old.  In parent and baby assessments the parents can be any age.  The oldest parent we have had placed was 42.  This is unusual but not impossible.

   

  
  

• Can I choose how long I want children and young people to stay with me?

  Traditional, local authority fostering tends to use the categories short term, middle term and long term or (permanent) fostering.

  Whilst you are going through your assessment, you will be allocated a social worker who will work with you, at this stage they will assess what sex, age group and length of placement that would suit your circumstances.  However, the length of the placement is difficult to predict and therefore may change.

  As a full time carer for NEWFOCAS you will therefore need to have flexibility.  Our foster placements are of a therapeutic nature and often lead to a longer term arrangement with Local Authorities continuing placements for "as long as the placement continues to meet the therapeutic needs of the child".

   

   

  
  

• Who is responsible for taking the children to school and to the doctor etc?

  You will look after a foster child as you would any other child in your family.  As such NEWFOCAS would expect you to take your placement to school and back, if you do have a crisis that will prevent this happening then NEWFOCAS would make every effort to arrange alternative transport. This is where the 'team around the child' works so well as a trusted sessional or respite carer may be appropriate to support you in some of these tasks.

   

  
  

• Are we allowed to smack foster children?

  No foster carer is allowed to smack or use any form of corporal punishment.  The fostering regulations state that no form of corporal punishment is permitted.  This includes any form of smacking, slapping or shaking.

  As a NEWFOCAS carer you are expected to work therapeutically and you will be provided with training and on going advise as to alternative and effective ways to managing difficult behaviours.

  Our carers are trained to understand the underlying reasons why children may behave in a particular manner, and this insight does make it easier to handle.

   

  
  

• What help would I get with a child who has special needs or a disability?

  NEWFOCAS would give all the support you would need to look after a child with special needs or a disability, this would include training and the relevant equipment required.  NEWFOCAS endeavour to give foster carers all the information they can obtain about the child before a placement would be made.