Children needing care

Children of all ages need foster carers for many reasons and for varying lengths of time. It could be for a few days, weeks, months, years or, for some the rest of their childhood. Some of the reasons why children may be fostered include:

They may have suffered neglect, emotional, physical or sexual abuse.
Their parents may not be able to care for them due to illness or mental health problems.
A parent may have a drug or alcohol problem which seriously affects their ability to care for a child.
A single parent with no other help or support available may need foster carers for the children if they need to go into hospital.
Sometimes there is a temporary breakdown in family relationships which effects the children.
Some teenagers feel they need to be away from home for a while due to major problems and tension.
Their parents may have had unsatisfactory childhoods themselves and lack positive experiences to draw on to provide their own children with adequate care and protection.
Parents of children with disabilities eg physical, learning or behavioural problems may sometimes find it difficult to cope and require a break from time to time.

Whenever we can, we try to keep families together. This is not always possible and some children have to be cared for by us. In some cases, parents request their children to be looked after, or they give their agreement for this when the we consider it necessary. In other cases, social workers may need to apply to the court for an order to safeguard children. As a foster carers you can offer these children the chance of a stable and secure life.

Carers needed

Can you help us build a positive future for James?

James is 12 years old and currently living with short-term foster carers. He is an active young person who loves football and plays for his local team. He enjoys school and has the potential to do well. His favourite subject is drama and he wants to become a paramedic when he is older. He has two younger brothers who are also in care with whom he needs to maintain contact. His mother is White British and his father is African Caribbean.

James needs a family who: