Some children or young people in the Portsmouth area have disabilities or complex health conditions that result in their parent not being able to meet their needs and them requiring foster care.
Foster Portsmouth is always in need of carers that can offer the relevant experience to help care for these children and support regular family time with their birth families if this is possible.
Offering this element of care is a highly rewarding way to support children in care and those offering it play a valuable role in the development of some of our most vulnerable children and young people.
Children like 3-year-old Elliott* who enjoys going to nursery and being outside. Elliott, who struggles with verbal communication and prefers solitary play, likes to line things up, and enjoys numbers, letters and shapes. Alternative methods have been used to gain a better understanding of what Elliott needs and he has begun falling into a bedtime routine and learning to stay in bed.
Each of our dedicated foster carers offer different skills and qualities, including those that care for children or young people with additional needs. These conditions include physical, developmental, learning or sensory disabilities.
“Fostering children with disabilities has been a great decision for us. We’ve been given a lot of training on their medical needs. We also have support from a range of medical professionals. The sense of reward and achievement is fantastic.” – Wendy & Guy, Foster Carers
Many foster carers looking after children with complex needs have experience of working in this field, maybe working in a school or they have a medical career, or with their own birth children who may have special educational needs. However, we also provide specialist training to provide you with the skills you may need.
Foster carers receive competitive fees and allowances, and excellent, local training and 24/7 support – including through our mentoring scheme and pioneering Mockingbird Programme support network – ensuring you develop any knowledge or skills you may need.
You’ll benefit from being part of a substantial team of social workers, therapists, and education and childcare professionals. Carers with the necessary skills to care for more complex young people can receive competitive skill payments which can provide an alternative to working outside the home.
Wendy and Guy continued, “We’re glad we made the move to Foster Portsmouth as there’s more support available and it’s nice to feel you’re supporting your local community.”
Jackie Clark, Portsmouth City Council’s fostering service leader, commented, “Anyone aged 21+ with a spare bedroom could foster with Foster Portsmouth regardless of their age, gender, sexuality, faith, ethnicity, marital or work status, or whether they rent or own their own home. We’re particularly keen to talk to anyone with any childcare experience, or experience of working with young people or people with disabilities.”
Could you provide support for children like Elliott and make a difference to their life… and yours?
To enquire or to arrange a 1:1 with one of our experienced team or existing foster carers, please fill in our contact form, email: fostering@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or call 023 9283 4071, or join us at one of our forthcoming events.
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*Some names are changed to protect privacy.
