Do I need my head testing

[Ranger]

I am looking at a change of career (the current one has just gone too far from what motivated me about it, i.e. making a difference to people's lives and with the current jobs market I am considering fostering.

I know it isn't going to make me rich but that isn't what I am looking for (as long as I have enough to pay the bills) and have always enjoyed working with children and teenagers. The question is has anyone got any experience of the positive and negative aspects of this as a career

 

[summerdays]

I don't have any personal experience of it ... but it won't be an easy ride, though it can be rewarding (not in a monetary way). My friend's mother brought her up with a number of foster children. Most of which are still considered family and all get together for big occasions although all the children are now in their 30's and 40's. I've also seen a couple of children in foster care at school and they could be hard work - presumably as part of the reason they may have ended up in foster care was through poor parenting for whatever reason. However I expect there are others in school that I wouldn't know had been fostered - it can make a big difference to their lives looking at my friend's fostered siblings.

If you decide to do it then I wish you well in the future.

 

[steve52]

i have and do , 1 its not a money spinner 2 it takes a long time and a lot of effort to get excepted and your first placment 3 its very draing and the kids often resent you 4 it steals your life and you lose any direction except fostering, 5 is it worth it ABSOLUTLY ive been doing it for ten years that have flown by,

 

[surfdude]

i dont foster but i do work for a charity that deals with kids with problems and i find it very rewarding to do .these kids just need someone with half a brain to show them what life can really be like without abuse and a little bit of positive outlook . it is hard but i am sure if you ve got the right attitude you will make and can give alot of help to these young people who need it so much . good luck if you give it a try .

 

[Ranger]

Had a long chat with a social worker on the 'phone today about what the options are and she seems to be happy with the idea that we do not want over 12's at the moment (need to build our confidence) but apparantly we would be ideal for children with disabilities, who I hadn't even thought about needing foster parents, as we both come from families with a long and glorious history of complex learning difficulties. We are also unusual as we also have 2 spare bedrooms so can take siblings, again it hadn't occured to me that children often come in pairs

Anyway she is sending out the paperwork and we are arranging a home visit for a longer talk and to start filling out the forms. All being well I should be registered/trained in around 6 months and then it is wait for the first placement

 

[surfdude]

well done you and hope it really works out for you

 

[fossyant]

Something very rewarding for you to do...............

My neighbours do it, extended their house, but they have 4 kids of their own already................ massive impact if you have 'other stuff to do' - i.e. you want to go cycling at weekends............- but I can see the rewards they get personally................... if you are up for it........

Me.....deffo really feel for the kids, but...my kids/family/the bike/job/keeping fit comes first...(also new Beaver Scout Leader OMG !) - and my house isn't big enough................... I'd consider it, but I'd become too attached..... bad enough with a bits of metal tubes I ride........

You are a gem...................

We all do mad stuff..............

 

[summerdays]

Did you watch the Panarama programme on it this week - I was thinking of you during it. The children featured in it were all characters though the elder boy would have been hard work - problem is that by that stage he has been let down so many times.