So you’re interested in fostering?

What happens after you make first contact?

What kinds of questions will you be asked? What can you expect? What kind of information will you be given? What is the assessment process like? What happens on a home visit?

Will you be expected to know what kind of fostering you want to do from the off? (And what if you don’t yet know?)

Who and what are the ‘Panel’? And what happens when you are invited in front of them?

And how long will this all take?

For someone new to the world of fostering it can all seem a bit daunting so let's ease those worries and make the unfamiliar, familiar. Join us, as we uncover the fostering assessment process with seasoned expert, Ben Rice, the practice manager at Bernardo's Fostering and Adoption in Northern Ireland.

In this compelling conversation, Ben enlightens us on the different types of foster care: emergency, short term, long term, and foster-to-adopt. He walks us through the four-session preparation course that potential foster carers and adopters undertake, highlighting the indispensable role of foster parents in the daily lives of the children. We unravel the critical issues such as age requirements, experience with children, convictions, and the importance of a secure and nurturing home environment.

Finally, we delve into the decision-making process post-assessment, shedding light on how the fostering panel and social worker's roles contribute. From assessing an applicant's comprehension of fostering to ensuring the entire family's support, we cover it all. So, buckle up as we navigate the timescales of the assessment process, discuss how to prepare for the panel's decision, and equip you for this life-altering adventure. Let's journey together, shaping futures one foster child at a time.

Learn more about fostering and adoption with Barnardo’s:
https://www.barnardos.org.uk/get-support/fostering-and-adoption

To learn more about fostering and adoption in NI, visit our Linktr.ee:
https://linktr.ee/barnardosfosteringni

To ask a question, give us some feedback or make a topic request, email us at:
BFANI@barnardos.org.uk

Foster belonging with us!