Parent and Child Fostering

In this blog post, we will explore what parent and child fostering entails and how Caritas Care offers essential support throughout this journey.

What is Parent and Child Fostering?

Parent and child fostering is a specialised form of fostering where a parent (or parents) is placed in a foster home along with their child or children. This arrangement aims to provide both the parent(s) and child with a supportive environment while addressing any difficulties that may arise in their relationship or parenting skills. People often think that the parent will be young – this is not always the case and they may have more than one child. Parent and Child fostering is usually time limited and offers the parent the opportunity to prove that they are able to be ‘good enough’ parents to their child and the ultimate aim is that they move on to live independently with their child.

The Role of Foster Carers

Foster carers play an important role in parent and child fostering. Their role is to not only provide accommodation but also emotional support and practical guidance to the parents, with the aim of them eventually moving on to live independently. Foster carers will work with social workers to create plans that address each family’s needs. This will often involve modelling how to care and interact with children and foster carers will need to keep written records, charting the progress of the parent. At the start of a placement the foster carer may offer a lot of support to the parent, with the aim that as the placement progresses they are able to withdraw and the parent is able to care for their child with little support.

What do I need?

You need a spare bedroom that can accommodate a cot and a bed or in some cases two bedrooms. Be available to oversee and offer advice, so this role doesn’t fit in with being employed. It’s helpful if you live somewhere that has services such as shops, mother & baby groups, GP surgeries within walking distance or on a bus route. The ability to support a parent with all aspects of life if necessary and assist them in learning to it for themselves – cooking simple meals, budgeting, laundry, routines, playing and interacting with the baby or child.

The Support Offered by Caritas Care

At Caritas Care, we recognise that parent and child fostering requires specialised knowledge and resources. Our commitment to supporting foster carers includes:

1. Training Programmes: We offer training designed for foster carers involved in parent-child placements. This training covers topics such as effective communication strategies, understanding developmental milestones, current thinking around caring for babies and young children and managing challenging behaviours.
2. Dedicated Social Workers: Every foster carer has a supervising social worker who provides ongoing support and guidance to them. You will receive regular visits and check-ins to monitor progress and address any concerns that may arise during the placement.
3. Access to Resources: Caritas Care connects families with additional resources such as parenting classes, mental health services, financial advice, and community support networks.
4. Peer Support Groups: We organise peer support groups where foster carers can share experiences, challenges, and successes with one another in a safe environment.

At Caritas Care, we are committed to providing comprehensive support to our foster carers so they can then support parents throughout their journey.

Click here to enquire about fostering with Caritas Care or complete the form opposite and a member of our team will contact you.