Orchard Care North East - Specialist Fostering Agency

What does Orchard Care offer to Foster Carers?

§ £350-600 per week depending on the nature of the placement

(a component of this is for the care of the foster child).

§ 24 hour support 7 days a week from experienced qualified

social workers.

§ Support from our support team 7 days a week by qualified and

experienced staff.

§ Specialist educational support package provided by our educational

team. Each foster home will have teaching and support staff

dedicated to supporting the educational needs of the young person

you are looking after.

§ Regular supervision.

§ Individual development and ongoing training programme.

§ An opportunity to train to N.V.Q. level 3.

Becoming a Foster Carer

Age

§ You must be 21 years or over to apply to be a foster carer.

§ There is no upper age limit.

§ Naturally you must be fit enough to carry out the fostering

task - whatever your age!

§ You will not be discriminated against because of age.

Qualifications

§ None required.

§ Those with qualifications should also apply as everyone is offered

full training in all aspects of the fostering task.

§ Those who achieve foster care status will be given the opportunity

to gain N.V.Q. qualifications relevant to foster care.

§ You will be supported in all of your learning.

Attributes

§ You are kind, caring and have a sense of humour.

§ You are interested in children and young people and like to spend

time with them.

§ You can be firm when necessary but prefer to reward rather

than punish.

§ You want to learn and can work as part of a team.

§ Most of all, you see fostering as a way of making a positive

difference to the life of a child or young person.

Experience

You have brought up your own or been involved in the care of other

people's children in some way.

How long does it take?

Usually between 3 and 6 months from your first contact with us

through a process of training assessment and approval.

What does it cost?

The process is free to you. All it costs is your time and energy and

willingness to join in.

Will I have to give up work?

§ We ask that at least one person is available on a full time basis

to foster.

§ Some people choose only to foster on a part time basis.

§ No one should give notice at work until all the training assessment

and checks are completed and approved. Even then it may be the

case that you remain in your employment until your first foster

child is identified.

Health

§ We will ask you to go to your doctor for a medical for which we

will pay. This is usually completed after your first set of training

called "Choosing to Foster".

§ Your doctor will say whether you are fit at the present time to

foster.

Checks

§ As part of our Child Protection Policy and function, thorough 'checks'

will be made on all applicants to foster and any other members of

the household over 16 years of age.

§ These checks are concerned primarily with verifying identity and

ensuring that no one with a criminal or other record against children

goes unidentified.

§ All of the checks will be paid for by Orchard Care.

Space

You will need a spare room and lots of time and energy.

Who would you be caring for?

§ Within Orchard Care we would like to offer homes to a wide range of

children and young people.

§ Young people may be any age from nought to seventeen.

They may be:-

- Children with disabilities

- Children who require palliative care

- Children with learning difficulties

- Children with special educational needs

- Children who need somewhere to grow up away from their family home

§ The collective decision to offer a placement depends on the skills,

abilities and willingness of the carers and the support team to meet the

needs of a young person. There is a detailed matching process. You will

be fully involved along with the rest of the team in deciding whether

we can positively affect a young person's life.

§ Children and young people need to be cared for away from home for

very varied and complex reasons.

§ Some need to be away for weeks or holidays, some need a permanent

alternative or second family where they can live until they are adult.

§ Sometimes emergencies happen and a child needs to be cared for but

then move on within days or a few weeks.

§ During your training and assessment these and many other possibilities

will be discussed with you and your family.

§ We will lead and support you to make the right fostering choice for your

circumstances as they are today. Once this is done we will endeavour

to match the right child to your circumstances and what you can offer.

And don't forget we are with you all the way,

check our support page to read more.

Would you like to know more?

For further information please contact us on 0191 377 9988

or email us at info@orchardcare.org