The foster care system needs more caregivers who are actually fit for the task, instead of just meeting the minimum eligibility criteria. Ideal caregivers are people who truly wish to help children in distress first, before anything else. If you consider yourself to be one of them and you wish to become a foster carer, you will need to apply at a local fostering agency. However, that is the part which requires a bit of discretion.
Being Cautious
If you live in a major city like Glasgow, you might feel a little overwhelmed by the sheer number of agencies that operate there. So, how should you choose between them? Even if someone has the potential to be an ideal foster care provider, not all independent foster care agencies can fully utilise and honour that good intent. Then there is the fact that a foster carer can only sign up with one agency at a time. Go through the following points and be cautious before signing up with a new fostering agency.
Reputation
In this age of internet, it is almost impossible for any public establishment to hide a bad reputation. Therefore, take the following steps:
- See if they perform the necessary background checks before hiring foster care providers.
- Check and verify that the fostering agency has been working with the Scottish foster care system for at least a few years.
- Find more out about their reputation regarding how they treat their foster carers and the children in care.
- Check their official ratings, as awarded by the Care Inspectorate.
To find a foster care agency that has been in the system with excellent reputation and ratings for over 25 years, visit fosterplus.co.uk.
Training
Whether you are signing up as a regular foster care provider or as a specialist carer, you will need preparation training if it’s your first time. In fact, you may also need to attend additional training sessions periodically to keep your fostering skills and knowledge up to date.
All necessary supplemental and advanced training courses are to be arranged and paid for by the foster care agency. Ensure that the fostering agency is capable and willing to do what is necessary to provide their care providers with both preparatory and advanced training.
Allowance
It’s true that money should never be the priority for a foster care provider, but that does not negate financial requirements. Understand that foster caring is a fulltime job which in most instances won’t leave you with enough time to work fulltime anywhere else. Therefore, it is only practical for every foster care provider to compare allowances, bonus payments, supplemental benefits, etc., from multiple agencies before signing up with one.
Do not undermine the fact that what you will be paid will also have a direct impact on your foster children’s quality of life. Not that you should choose the highest paying fostering agency, because the factors stated above are more important, especially in the long run. However, your chosen agency’s allowance rates should at least be competitive in comparison.
Finally, you may also want to enquire about the support system they have to provide to their care providers. The agency should have a system to support foster carers during private emergencies, as well as when they feel that a break is needed to prevent burnout.
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