A Child For Christmas

No, this isn’t an idea for a new fostering recruitment campaign, but it is something we hear a lot especially around December time.

We receive well meaning calls from people who feel they have a spare place at their table and in their hearts for Christmas, and call to invite one of the children in our care to join them for the festive period.

To slightly adapt a well known slogan from an awareness campaign “a child is for life, not just for Christmas”.

Why not I hear you cry? Well for a moment put yourself in the shoes of the child, the chances are they have had a difficult life so far, they may have limited or no contact with their birth family, they may be in residential care or maybe they have been moved from one foster care home to another and then to another and then to another (and so on). Then the nights draw in, the TV is dominated with adverts for Christmas gifts and the windows of all the houses they pass on the way to school, display well decorated trees and twinkling lights… and then they receive a call asking if they would like to join a family of strangers for the day. Yes it does sound like a lovely and well meaning invite, but a child or young person who has had disruption and major challenges in their life may be able to understand the good intentions and wonder why they can’t stay the rest of the year and why they can only go for a day.

If you still think this is a good idea and you think we’re being party poopers, try and imagine how the day will pan out. The house is busy with preparations for Christmas lunch taking place; someone will be in the kitchen ploughing through vegetable peeling duties and watching the Turkey in the oven. Any children in the house will be over excited with the occasion; playing with their toys, eating more chocolate than they are usually allowed and are probably tired having got up early to see if Santa’s been yet. The noise levels at Christmas always seem to be higher than usual; the television is on, computer games being played and Christmas Carols in the background.... and then the relatives arrive, bringing with them more noise, chaos and presents for the household. As the day continues, being on best behaviours, tiredness and over indulging at the Christmas table can all take its toll and tempers may be a little frayed; debates over who’s doing the washing up, too much mulled wine has been drunk and the children are squabbling.. all of this may seem normal to you and your family but it can be difficult situation for a child or young person who has never met you before.. and even if they have wonderful time, joined in with all the festivities, played nicely with your children and were polite to your Auntie Ethel, what then? They get picked up at end of the day, returned to their residential home.. and back to their reality.

A bit harsh I know but if you genuinely are interested in giving a child a place at your Christmas table, why not also for the other 364 days of the year?

Supporting the Foster Carers

We don’t just place a child with a foster carer and then leave them to it; we provide ongoing support and help before, after and during placements.

Each foster care household is allocated a Supervising Social Worker from Park Foster Care and they will regular visit you at your home at least every two weeks to check how things are going, discuss any concerns you may have and be your main link to the agency for information and specialist support that you or the child or young person may need.

Support is also available out of hours; we operate a rota system where our Supervising Social Workers are on duty evenings and weekends to ensure that there is always just on the end of the phone, no matter what time of day.

We pride ourselves on the training courses we provide for our foster carers.  The mix of training available is designed to be both theory based and practical.  Some carers ask if they can study NVQ qualifications or other specific training, we encourage this and will support financially and practically during the course.

We hold a number of parenting forums and monthly support groups within different geographic areas of our region, this allows the carers the opportunity to speak with other carers, support each other and build friendships with people in similar situations to themselves.  

Reflective practice sessions are available for carers after a significant event has taken place e.g. when a placement finishes.  Even if this has been a planned move rather than a break down we recognise that the foster carers do need the opportunity to speak with our specialist parenting consultant who can help them understand and handle their thoughts, feelings and how to learn from their experiences. 

At Park Foster Care we recognise that occasionally you need time to yourself or with your family, and we provide as standard up to 18 days per year as paid leave.  The child or young person in your care will be placed with another household as respite care.

Additionally, we have a team of support workers based around our region who can help out by taking the child or young person out to do a specific activity of interest and age relevant i.e. a trip to the zoo, a cycle in the park, watch a film at the cinema etc.  This can be timed for when you are attending a meeting, a training course, spending time with your family or just taking a well earned rest.