If you’ve decided to become a foster carer, your head is most likely filled with excitement, nerves, and a ton of burning questions. Luckily, we’re here to alleviate some of the pressure with our four top tips for new foster carers.
Know Who Your Support Network Is
When a foster child arrives in your care, you are part of a larger support network that’s dedicated to providing a high quality of life. Therefore, it’s important to know who your support network is. Typically, this will include social workers, agency case workers, and other relevant professionals. Your foster agency will also have a website full of useful information, like this page about foster care allowances on thefca.co.uk.
Outside of official channels, you will have your close family and friends to back you up along the way. After your new foster child has settled into your home, don’t be afraid to introduce them to your loved ones, as this may make them feel like part of the family.
Creating a Personal and Welcoming Space
Before welcoming your first foster child, make sure your home is warm and inviting. To start with, declutter your home so that you’re starting with a clean slate. Doing this will help your new foster child to feel more secure and settled.
When it comes to the foster child’s bedroom, you should use neutral colours and remember that it’s their safe space. Once they’ve settled in, you can ask them how they’d like the room decorated, whether this be posters, wallpaper, vibrant colours, or a running theme. By allowing your foster child full control over their room, you’ll help with boosting their confidence levels.
Offering Much-Needed Reassurance
Just imagine for a moment that you’ve been told that you’re going to go and stay with a kind foster carer for a while. Your head would be racing with questions with no idea what the reality of the situation will be. Now that you’re in the mindset of your new foster child, here are some ways you can help:
- Give them a guided tour of your home. Showing them around your home is essential, as it lets them know where everything is. Be sure to set boundaries here if there are any rooms off limits.
- Go through some family photos. Take time with this but sit down with the family photo album and tell them who everyone is. Answer any questions they have along the way.
- Take them shopping for essentials. You need the basics before they arrive, but take them shopping to find out what products they’re used to using.
Involving Your Foster Children
Your new foster child will have come from a traumatic environment, which may have included neglect. Therefore, you should make an effort to include them in activities like cooking, shopping, and budgeting, which will help develop life skills and strengthen your relationship.
Welcoming a foster child into your home will fill you with nerves at first, but this just shows how much you care. By following the tips outlined above, your foster child will feel at home in no time.