Foster carers are the difference vulnerable children need; it is a profession like no other, and it’s not for the faint-hearted; it’s for the determined. Many people with a genuine desire to foster have a plan. Firstly, they decide to find out more about fostering. Secondly, they find the right agency/ charity/ local authority they feel is the one for them. Finally, they stay motivated and do what they set out to do; they become approved foster carers with Not- for- Profit Charities they know is the right one for them.
Your motivation to foster is driven by the desire to make a difference.
For these foster carers, the most important thing is deciding on the right Fostering Agency they feel ‘matched’ to. Their determination to make a difference in children’s lives is their motivation to foster;’ subsequently, this becomes the focus of achieving their goal. Most foster carers know when they find the right agency. They also say if they knew then what they know now, they would have done it earlier in a heartbeat!
There is a significant shortage of foster carers with a genuine desire and determination to be the difference children need. However, the pathway to fostering might not be straightforward; is there something in our past which might stop us from fostering?
Most foster care assessors know that many people have had things happen in their past; how many of us can say we have had a straightforward life? Life’s twists and turns are complicated; however, in foster care, it is how we deal with these important challenges. Lessons learned become experienced and knowledge; subsequently, they are skills needed to guide vulnerable children.
Not-for-Profit Charities need skills and the ability to care, love and empathise with children. These charities understand children’s needs, and the need to find more foster carers is higher. However, they don’t need a bum in a bed; they need safe and loving homes with skills and experience to match children’s needs.
Recruiting foster carers is challenging for many Charities and agencies because finding good foster carers is difficult. They, and the children they support, need you. Therefore, if you are invited to apply as a foster carer, they respect your skills, and you match. They know your skills combined with 24/7 support and training means; you are the one to make a difference.
In Foster care, the Difference is the matching.’
Verve knows that recruiting foster carers is difficult. Many people who begin their fostering journey often ‘drop out’ for many reasons. Sometimes, they realise the time isn’t right for them, so they decide to wait. Others realise there may never be a right time; they go for it and explore the options.
Some potential foster carers often feel the charity or agency isn’t the match for them. However, they continue until they find the one for them; hopefully, they don’t give up; sadly, many do.
It is also important to match you with a Social Worker who will stay with you throughout your fostering career. Relationships with Charities and social workers for yourself and the matching of children are the foundations of solid relationships. The foundations are the basis for successful fostering placements and children settling into safe and happy homes.
Poverty is driving more children into care.
Child Poverty, to me, should never be a reason for families splitting up and children going into care. It’s shameful and wrong; for me, it shows a broken system that needs fixing.
‘Dire poverty is ‘driving many more children into care. Shameful” poverty levels drive a dramatic rise in child protection intervention and, subsequently, the number of children in care.’
Maybe, if we spent less money on children placed in private Residential Children’s Homes, money would be available to alleviate poverty. Then we would have preventative support measures which vulnerable families and children need to stop them from going into poverty.
Also, we can eliminate a new label of poverty as a cause of children going into care. The article argues that the “dysfunctional market” for children’s residential care must be ‘dismantled or radically overhauled.’ It also goes on to say, ‘profit-making eliminated or capped’. I prefer the statement, ‘profit-making eliminated’; hence, Verve recruits foster carers for Not-for-Profit Charities. More alarming is that in another article the BBC wrote, the BBC reveals Child Poverty cash not spent over a year ago. Strangely enough, our government never spent the money; they handed it back. https://ververecruitment.org/child-poverty-cash-handed-back-to-europe-unspent/.
Foster care is the Difference vulnerable children need.
Not for Profit Charities focus on the needs of children and their families. More importantly, they have provided support networks to families and children for generations. Also, unlike many agencies, they have local support networks, not call centres, and they give you 24/7 support when you and the children need it most.
The pandemic and poverty provide reasons why vulnerable children need foster carers now more than ever. Therefore, if you have ever thought about fostering; or had fostered before and left, please get in touch.
“Having fostered young people previously as part of a couple, I knew it’s‘ what I did. And I needed to again, but as a single parent. I also knew what I wanted from a fostering agency and what I didn’t. I contacted Verve, discussed things, and Val recommended a charity-based agency. After a lot of hurdles, I finally got approved again. Not all agencies are the same, and it’s‘ about finding the one most suitable for you and your needs, which is what Val at Verve has done xxx. “
Joanne Mills
Verve is the change-makers in Foster Care Recruitment.
Verve aims to create strong fostering partnerships with Not-for-Profit Charities from the start. We match you and Not for Profit Fostering Charities together, and subsequently, with the right team behind you, you will match with vulnerable children and be the difference they need.
We recruit foster carers for Not for Profit because we have a shared ethos. Also, we aim to recruit more foster carers with Charities for Local Authorities to place children with Not for Profit and, thus, reduce the number of foster carers with expensive IFAs.
Verve, we give back by creating campaigns for Not-for-Profit charities.
Recently, I started a campaign, ‘Knitted Bereavement Blankets, Hearts, Teddies & Toys Appeal.’ The appeal aims to recruit kind-hearted people to make Bereavement Blankets, hearts, and teddies for a local hospital, the Salford Royal NHS Trust and the Swan Bereavement Team. Ambassador Yvonne Simms delivered Bereavement blankets recently to the Swan team. Sadly, however, these blankets go quickly. It is not to say there are more deaths; it is because counsellors will give blankets and comforters of knitted hearts and teddies to children who have suffered bereavement, grief and loss through Covid.
Yvonne runs the Salford Food Parcels Charity in Salford. Yvonne knows only too well the number of families needing food parcels due to poverty; she also knows the number of families struggling to keep their babies warm due to lockdowns. Yvonne and I created the ‘Knitting for Babies Appeal’ and the ‘Emergency Food Parcels Appeal’. Thankfully, these appeals led us to the Ladies who Knit coming together; and the kindness of strangers who want to make a difference for vulnerable children and families is impressive.
Are you the Difference that children need?
Sadly, the pandemic and poverty are now why many vulnerable children will need foster carers. Therefore, more than ever before, we need to recruit. If you had thought about fostering, fostered before and left, maybe you are already a foster carer considering transferring to a Not for Profit; please get in touch.
If you want to learn more about Verve, who we are, and who we do it with, please send me your details on the form below. There’s no commitment, just clarity on the fostering role and information to help you decide if the time is right to foster. We will call you in the evening or at weekends if that works for you. Today’s world is challenging, and we know that COVID makes life hard for everyone, especially vulnerable children. Can you foster?