Fostering is so much more than putting a child to bed and providing meals etc. It is day to day health issues, supporting a child in school, contact with the child’s natural family and reporting to Social Workers and other professionals on a daily basis.
Keeping Up With School
Children in care experience can affect their ability to settle into school and maintain a routine. This can mean things such as completing homework, contacting the child’s school on a regular basis and ensuring the child leaves for school on time with all the necessary equipment.
Managing Health and Appointments
In many cases foster carers in Pontypridd attend GP, dental appointments and specialist referrals with the child. It is useful to keep a simple log or diary of these appointments and of any medication the child is prescribed. This can then be communicated to the child’s social worker.
Supporting Contact With Birth Family
There is also the issue of contact with the child’s birth family. If children are in foster care then there will usually be some sort of contact with their families. As a foster carer you will need to be warm and neutral before and after contact and help the child to deal with any difficult feelings that contact may have caused. You should also make a note of any contact and pass this on to the social worker.
Communicating With the Social Worker
Updating the child’s social worker on a regular basis is a large part of the job of a Foster Carer. The Welsh Government guidance on foster care for children in care in Wales sets out what information carers should record and report to social workers. It is always a good idea to read this early on and complete brief daily records rather than leaving it all to memory.
Finding Out More
For Foster Care Pontypridd, visit saferfostering.org.uk/foster-care-wales/pontypridd.
By getting these key aspects of caring for a child who is fostered within your home right it will help the child to feel safe and settled.