We are two respite foster carers based in Blackpool, we started our fostering journey in July 2022. I (Amy) have always wanted to become a foster Carer due to having experienced foster care when I was a young child. Even though I know I always wanted to become a foster carer …. timing is everything, it’s important to know when your ready to begin this journey and lee and I had discussed and prepared before starting the process by researching All areas, reading other foster carers stories and getting advice from friends who are already approved before getting in touch.
We chose to contact CFS care as we had been inspired by one of their foster carers and she had recommended CFS to us.
From that very first call with CFS, throughout the initial training and the assessment, CFS care offered us support and guidance during the whole process. The skills to foster training was really enjoyable, especially meeting others going through the same process with CFS and although the assessment is quite intense and lengthy, our assessor was very patient and supportive.
For us, respite care is the perfect fit at current as we have two young children of our own, so we wanted to ensure they would be able to adapt to life, welcoming other children into our home.
Since we started, we have had many placements and the children benefit so much from our own children too – they have made friendships, shown them love and laughter and it is just so wonderful to be able to do this as a family team.
All foster carers, the support staff, management and the social workers within the company are absolutely amazing! It’s a wonderful community to be a part of. Full time fostering is now something we know we want to do.
To help children prepare for staying with us, we make arrangements so the child can get to know us beforehand. We meet the children so they can get to know us before coming to stay. The Child/ren also receive a welcome booklet which shows pictures and descriptions of our home and family members too. All this is put in place as it is crucial for any child and helps reduce any feelings of anxiety before the stay begins.
We aim to make all Respite stays feel like a holiday for them as much as possible whilst also supporting them with any challenges which may arise during their stay. We plan their time with us full of activities such as baking, cooking, creative educational crafts, meeting up with other foster carers and their children for fun days out, gardening as well as visits to parks, outdoor adventures, play areas and local places of interest where they may not have been before so they can experience new places. We adapt the activities to suit the age of the children and multi adapt if we have children of different ages stay with us at the same time.
After they have stayed with us we then create a Memory Booklet for the Children and send it to their SW so they can take those memories with them as they grow.
CFS provide us with as much information as they can when a new child is coming to stay to help us make them feel comfortable and at home. There is always someone at the end of the phone if we ever need them.
For anyone considering fostering who may not be sure, or if you have little ones of your own that and want to be sure they can cope with the process too. Respite is a brilliant steppingstone if you’re not sure, or not quite ready to take on full-time fostering. It’s an incredibly rewarding experience – not only are you helping youngsters make great memories and live a normal childhood, but you’re providing an invaluable break for foster carers.
The best part of our foster journey so far is .. everything! We love every part of what we are able to do alongside other full time foster carers to give each child a happy, healthy childhood and prepare them for a successful future.
If you are thinking about fostering and are unsure which path to go down – CFS Won’t disappoint.
We all look forward to welcoming you into this wonderful family of foster carers.
