Appeal to foster a teenager in Wiltshire
Foster carers need to stem shortfall
Last updated 15th May 2021
Foster Care Fortnight is underway and this year Wiltshire residents are being urged to consider fostering older children aged 11 - 18 years to help meet a need.
Young people in care have been sharing their thoughts on what makes a good foster carer as Wiltshire Council launches a new campaign to encourage more people to consider fostering.
The latest campaign is part of a wider three-year drive which started in 2020 to recruit 100 foster carers in the county.
TEENS: WHAT MAKES A GOOD FOSTER CARER?
Along with Jake, Zac, Chantel,and Sam have also shared their thoughts on how important it is to learn life skills such as cooking, coping with emotions and growing up with support around you.
Zac explains what makes a good foster carer:
"Someone to help me understand what has happened and to be sensitive, someone who will build a relationship so I can trust them, someone you just share with."
Sam says:
"I believe a great foster carer needs to be supportive, loving, caring, and to not give up on anyone if they have had a difficult start in life which may have impacted on the way they behave or come across."
Chantel said:
"It's nice to be able to say about love and call them mum and dad. It took me nearly a year to call them mum and dad. It was a big step."
WILTSHIRE FOSTER CARER
Foster carer Sherly explains how rewarding caring for teenagers can be:
"Fostering a teenager can be quite challenging and tricky but it's not always like that. Try to be in their world to understand them better. Sometimes they are like Russian dolls, all closed up to protect themselves but slowly we can help them with the right communication and listening to keep them calm, positive and focussed. The reward to fostering is when the young person feels they are accepted and listened to and they feel more confidence, feeling safe and comfortable and the house is their house.
SHORTFALL IN SALISBURY
Meanwhile the call for foster carers is echoed by Five Rivers Child Care in Salisbury.
The independent fostering organisation and social enterprise says it's in "desperate need" of more families to care for children of all ages on a temporary or permanent basis.
Head of fostering operations, Martin Leitch, warns many people aren't aware of the growing demand;
"On average, over 1,000 children are referred to social services each week in England alone. Research has revealed that there has been a dramatic increase in referrals to social services since the start of the pandemic, and we are certain that it will continue to rise as it has done over the last several years.
“Today there is national shortage of more than 8,500 foster carers. This makes finding safe places for children to live extremely challenging. With the added post pandemic pressures, we are extremely concerned about whether there will be enough safe homes for vulnerable children in the greatest need."
BUSTING THE MYTHS
There are lots of misconceptions around who can become a foster carer.
A report by Five Rivers Child Care highlighted that 60% of people across the South West aren't aware those living in rented accommodation can foster.
Single people, co-habiting couples and same sex couples can all foster too!
As long as you are aged 21 and over, have a spare bedroom, and are kind and compassionate you could make a huge difference to a young person's life.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT FOSTERING
You can contact Five Rivers Child Care on 01722 626 271 or email carer.enquiries@five-rivers.org or visit www.five-rivers.org.
You can find out more about fostering with Wiltshire Council here: fosteringwiltshire.uk
The local authority is also holding an online information session on Tuesday 25 May from 7:30pm.
There's also a Facebook and Twitter Live Q&A Sessions on Friday 21 May from 10am to 12 noon on the Fostering in Wiltshire Facebook page and Foster Wilts on Twitter,
Email fostering@wiltshire.gov.ukor call the team on 0800 1696321
Foster Care Fortnight is an annual national campaign to raise awareness of fostering and to celebrate the fostering community. This year's theme is #WhyWeCare.