Could you Foster a Hampshire Child?

Have you ever thought about fostering a child?

You can foster whether you’re single, married, a homeowner or renting. You can also be working full or part-time. What matters most is your ability to provide a caring, patient and stable home.

There are many types of fostering that you can do to suit you and your personal circumstances. These could range from overnight stays, emergency placements and children seeking refuge, right through to short and long-term fostering.

Right now, we’re looking for compassionate, resilient individuals to become foster carers for our vulnerable children and young people who need a safe and nurturing environment to thrive.

Hampshire County Council's Children's Services has an Ofsted Outstanding rating, reflecting all the work that takes place to help children grow. We also have a unique offering for foster carers with our Hampshire Hive, an active, stimulating and supportive network of 27 foster family groups across the county.

To kickstart your fostering journey, we do ask that you:

• Are 21 years old or over
  
• Have a spare bedroom
  
• Some childcare experience
  
• Should have or be willing to acquire some childcare experience

What our Foster Carers say:

"It gives me the opportunity to work with looked after children that need a loving and caring home. It also gives me the opportunity to improve my skills and work as part of a team. It also makes me feel like I am doing something worthwhile." Phil, Foster Carer

Skills

What you’ll do:

As a foster carer your responsibilities will include:

• Advocate for the child in your care
• Help the child with all their daily routines, such as homework
  
• Find activities that the child enjoys boosting their confidence and self-esteem
  
• Promote contact with birth families
  
• Help children manage their behaviour and feelings
  
• Work as part of a professional team
  
• Attend meetings and training
  
• Keep records and write reports about the children in your care

What we’re looking for:

We’re seeking prospective foster carers with childcare experience who bring:

• Experience working with children and their families
• Strong skills in compassionate, empathy, patience, and strong nurturing instincts.
  
• Ability to provide a safe, secure and stable home environment for a child
  
• Communication and interpersonal skills
  
• Flexibility and adaptability
  
• Resilience
  
• Ability to learn, reflect and grow
  
• Collaboration with fellow professionals including social workers and therapists
  
• Commitment to diversity, equality and opportunity