Isle of Wight Fostering Service

Fostering is substitute family care for children and young people who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to live with their own families.

The law says that children’s interests are best served by remaining with their own families. The Isle of Wight Council has a duty to bear this in mind in ensuring and encouraging contact between the child and their parents. Most children eventually return to their natural families. Foster carers play an enormously important role in the success of this which largely depends on the contact maintained while they are living apart.

Long term fostering involves carers who are committed to looking after children as they progress through to adulthood, enabling them to have a positive experience of family life. At the same time, the carer is expected to work in partnership with birth families, and with professionals involved such as health and education. Carers will need to support the young person having contact with his/her family.

Short term fostering is about caring for a child in the knowledge that various options will be considered, i.e. return to birth family, adoption or long term fostering. A period of up to two years will still be referred to as short term fostering. During this time, clear planning for the child’s future will be a priority for all those concerned.

Respite carers offer a service both to long term foster carers and those birth families who need additional support in caring for a child/young person.

Day care providers offer day care to carers whose foster children may not be in education and require alternative adult supervision during the day.

Family Link is a specialised service for families who have a child with a disability or life threatening illness. This service offers respite care to those families and enables their children to have new experiences.

Combined Accommodation Scheme (CAS) aims to provide a consistent and stable experience for young people in the community who are or have been in foster care by arranging supportive lodgings with carers/providers. The scheme also aims to provide accommodation and support to young people aged 16-18 years who find themselves homeless. For further information on this scheme follow the link Combined Accommodation Scheme

To be a foster carer you can be single, married, with or without children, grandparent, in or out of work. All foster families are recruited, assessed, trained and supported by members of the Fostering and Adoption Services Team. If their application is successful, the Fostering Panel makes a recommendation to the Head of Children Services for approval.

Training is an essential part of the preparation process and is undertaken before applicants are assessed. Training groups are run over a number of sessions, which look at many aspects of fostering e.g., reasons for accommodation, how our team works and what demands will be made on you. We look at the issues of working with a child’s birth family, managing challenging or difficult behaviour and also at preparing a young person to move onto independent living. Ongoing training is essential to enhance foster carers’ skills and regular training events are held throughout the year on a variety of subjects.

The assessment process is thorough and may seem invasive, but we need to ensure the children are in a place where they will be safe, supported and well-looked after. During the assessment process which may take up to six months, the assessing social worker will undertake several home visits. Formal checks and references are carried out. The assessment will give you the opportunity to talk things through and prepare yourself for your new role. It will also help us to assess your skills and abilities which are important elements when matching children to carers.

Foster care allowances are paid according to the age and needs of each child. The allowance is designed to cover the basic maintenance costs of the child, including clothing. It is not taxable and it does not affect social security benefits, but child benefit is not paid. Allowances are regularly updated and a training incentive payment is considered.