Fostering siblings is a pivotal practice within the UK’s fostering community, and aims to preserve the bond shared by brothers and sisters during the challenges of a disrupted family environment.
Foster carers providing this specialised form of fostering offer the chance for vulnerable children to stay together – within a nurturing and stable family setting – while preserving their emotional connections and mutual support.
Sibling foster carers need the emotional capacity to care for multiple children and, on a more practical level, the bedroom space to offer sibling groups a home to live in.
Sometimes siblings can share a bedroom, but often they will require their own room. It will depend on the children’s situation, their age, and gender.
Unfortunately, it is often the case that a sibling group is split up because there aren’t enough foster carers that have the available room to take siblings.
The qualities and the remit for fostering siblings are the same as short-term fostering or, if the plan for the children is not to return home, the children may have an adoption plan, and remain with the foster carer under a long-term/permanent arrangement.
Fostering siblings offers the chance to create a nurturing environment where family connections flourish. If you possess the resources, dedication, and willingness to support the growth and well-being of multiple children, it can be a rewarding journey that positively impacts their lives and your own.
If you feel you can provide emotional and practical support to siblings simultaneously, have adequate space in your home and the time to meet the unique needs of each child, while maintaining their sibling bond, then sibling fostering may be a good fit for you.
Footprints will support you every step of the way with personalised 24/7 support, excellent financial rewards and an unparalleled knowledge of local resources and services. Contact us to find out more.
Footprints Foster Care Ltd
Registered Company No 07879639
Longham Business Park
168 Ringwood Road
Ferndown
Dorset BH22 9BU
Please do not be anxious about contacting us
– we promise not to put you under any pressure. We are happy to answer your questions and we need to ask questions to make sure that you meet some basic criteria, such as do you have a spare bedroom and live in the right area?
Assuming that these basic criteria are met and you are happy to proceed, we will arrange to come and meet you at your home.
The home visit usually lasts 1-2 hours and gives both parties the chance to ask lots of questions. We find out more about you and you find out more about us and what we can offer. If everyone is happy to proceed you will be given an application form to complete.
If however, having found out more about fostering, you decide that you do not wish to proceed, then do not feel embarrassed to say so. We will also be honest and let you know if we do not feel it is in your interests to proceed.
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If you decide to proceed, you will complete an application form and go into the assessment process. This can take between 3–6 months and is undertaken by a qualified social worker.
It is a thorough process and one which helps people understand what has shaped their lives, prepares them for the challenge of fostering and determines their motivation to foster. As part of this process, we will also undertake statutory checks and personal references, including police checks, personal and employment references and medicals.
The social worker will also meet with your personal referees, members of your household and any adult children you have living away from home to ensure they fully support your intentions to foster.
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During the assessment period, you will have the opportunity to attend the Skills to Foster™ course that provides the foundation for future learning and development, as well as giving you the confidence to undertake your first placement.
You will also be required to complete a portfolio of evidence to support your assessment.
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After stage 3 has been completed, your assessment and portfolio will be presented to a Fostering Panel. The panel is made of experienced social work practitioners and independent members, who will have carefully considered the report in advance of the panel.
You and your assessor will both attend the fostering panel to enable panel members to meet you, address any points for clarification and hear any final questions you may have.
If the panel is satisfied the requirements regarding your suitability to foster are met, they will make a recommendation to approve you as a foster carer.
The ultimate decision to approve lies with the agency decision maker, who will carefully consider the recommendation made by the fostering panel.
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