Please will you share your fostering experiences?

Alchemilla

Hello. I am not writing an article or anything but am considering fostering, I would love to hear about the pros and cons please?

Mojisola

Have you seen this site - https://www.fostertalk.org/forums/public-forum/?pageLocation=forums/public-forum

Alchemilla

Thanks. Off there now.

74jax

Do you want experiences from just those who foster? I was a supporter for my friend who fostered, if you want my views let me know but understand it might be more from the foster-ers point of view.

Hope it all works out for you ��. It's a fantastic job you're thinking of doing.

Alchemilla

Yes I would love to hear your views please.

Having done a lot of reading at the link above, it seems it is even more fraught with complication than I thought.

eskimo26

We foster unaccompanied minors.
Social workers are hit and miss, overworked, underpaid and ill prepared.
You just get on regardless really.
There's that initial period where it's all up in the air though but once you get the right fit things will gel and take care of themselves.

Then again our two boys are 16+ so quite independent [got them at 14/15].

Also unaccompanied minors have their own unique issues depending on their motivation for being here.

Alchemilla

Sorry for being dim but why are they called unaccompanied minors?

Thanks.

eastofeden

You are not being dim. An unaccompanied minor is a young person who is in this country without an accompanying adult/ parent. They may have been brought here illegally, but not always, so their immigration status varies.

eskimo26

Alchemilla wrote: »

Sorry for being dim but why are they called unaccompanied minors?

Thanks.

East of eden is correct generally they will be unaccompanied Asylum seekers under the age of 16/18, can't remember which. Our boys have been quite well behaved but like i said they have their own unique issues.

Not many people know of them so your not being dim at all.

Hard_Up_Hester

My daughter is a foster carer, it's hard work, she gets very little support or backup from social workers, they expect her to jump through hoops for their convenience but seem unable to give her any help or support. An example of this is them taking 20 months to approve a back up carer to cover DD when she was in hospital delivering her own babies, most pregnancies last approx 9 months, this fact seemed to escape the social workers!
DD has also got head lice & various other jolly thing from every new placement.
All that aside DD loves what she does.
Hester

lavandergirl_2

Hello OP.

There are a lot of fostering thread in Mumsnet as well.
I'm linking a thread about a fostering experience of a drug dependent baby. The thread is truly inspirational.
http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/a922821-drug-dependant-baby-advice-needed