Sponsored Editorial

It’s the start of a new year and a time for new beginnings. As 2022 kicks off, are you rethinking how you want to spend your time, the type of work you want to do and the rewards you are looking for?

Fostering is a well-paid and extremely rewarding role which offers a new career path including outstanding support and training and the opportunity to improve the lives and futures of our children and young people.

With courses ranging from Understanding the Teenage Brain to Caring for Children with Special Educational Needs, Kent Fostering’s partnerships with the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families to deliver the Reflective Fostering Program, and the opportunities they offer to gain professional qualifications through the Level 3 and 4 Diplomas in working and caring for traumatised children, you will not find any other fostering agency better equipped to train and support you as a foster carer.

The need for more foster carers continues to be high across the country and Kent Fostering, as the largest and most experienced fostering agency in Kent, is continuing to see an increase in the number of children and young people of all ages and abilities needing safe, secure and loving foster families.

The ongoing pandemic continues to adversely affect the county’s children and young people including placing increased pressure on some families, contributing to worsening mental health, more reliance on substances and deepening poverty leading to some children being exposed to very high levels of risk as a result. These children urgently need the safety and security of a loving foster family to help them recover and flourish.

Whether you are new to fostering or wishing to transfer from another agency, Kent Fostering are recruiting people from all walks of life. They are extremely proud of the diversity of their foster carers and would like to increase representation across all communities to meet the diverse needs of all children and young people needing foster care.

Whereas it is helpful for applicants to have some experience of parenting or looking after children and young people, a desire to help, be available, provide a place of safety and commit to caring and supporting them for as long as they need, are also important factors.

The assessment process will take no longer than six months, 3-4 months if you are a foster carer transferring from another agency and will involve a series of home visits from a social worker to get to know you and your family. The social worker will also use this time to undertake a series of background checks and interviews with friends and family members. You will be fully supported during this time with extensive training and support from a dedicated team, meeting like-minded people along the way who often become lifelong friends and an important part of your fostering network.

Katie and Chris Endersby, from Hartley recently went through the assessment process and were approved to become foster carers with Kent Fostering in November 2021.

“We had been considering becoming foster carers for some time but wanted to wait until our children were settled in school. We spent time researching our options and settled on KCC after much thought.

“We felt that we had a positive mix of professional skills, relevant lived experiences and a supportive network around us to offer a stable foundation and caring environment for children and young people finding themselves separated from their birth family.

“Despite all the challenges associated with the pandemic, we found the assessment process to be thorough and diligent. The group training was insightful and enjoyable with friendly and supportive individual interviews. And we were pleased to see everything come together in the final report and panel meeting.”

“We’re looking forward to extending a warm welcome to our first Foster child in the coming weeks and continuing to develop and grow as foster carers with the input and support of the young people and the team around them.”

Helen from Rochester has also recently been approved to become a foster carer. “As cliché as it sounds, I decided to be a foster carer to ‘make a difference’ to young people and where relevant and possible, their families.

“I have worked within children's services for 23 years and want to embrace new ways of working, build different professional relationships with others and care for individuals within my home for longer than just a 9 to 5.

“I personally found the assessment process enlightening and reflective. The topics covered in the assessment were very beneficial to explore whilst taking on this new role.”

Gemma and her partner Danny have just completed their assessment process and panel interview and are awaiting a final decision.

“My partner and I went through unsuccessful IVF but we both knew we wanted children in our life.

“The assessment process went really well and our social worker has been so supportive. The training is very intense, but it must be done; they can’t give a child to anybody. It really makes you talk about things, and it brought us closer together as a couple.

“We have been approved for a child or sibling group between 0-12 years; we have the room ready and are really looking forward to welcoming a child into our home. I have a mentor, who is an experienced Foster Carer and has been very supportive.

She messaged us before to wish us luck and we are meeting up for coffee soon.”

For those interested in learning more about becoming a foster carer, the Kent Fostering Initial Enquiries Team can be contacted on 03000 420002 or via the website at www.kentfostering.co.uk.

Here, you can have your questions answered about fostering for Kent and find out about our virtual information events where you can learn further information, meet staff and most importantly Kent’s wonderful foster carers who look after the county’s children and young people.