PANEL

A reader asks about PANEL. The reader is getting ready to be approved to foster. She/he has undergone the induction process, which is what happens when a person asks to come into fostering. That process goes something like this; You put your name forward either with a fostering agency or your local authority and you receive a quick visit from someone, a flying call to check you and your home out. They...

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SHE'S NEVER HEARD A NURSERY RHYME...

It's Fostering Fortnight, a good time to stress the positives in fostering. Fostering needs more fosterers. If you're someone who's thinking about it, go to the next step and make contact. Please. Fostering isn't all plain sailing, but being on board is the best way I know to sail the seas to some amazing places... Melanie stayed with us for eight months, Melanie and Trellawny, her baby. Mel was...

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FOSTERING; A BOX OF CHOCOLATES

I often think fostering is like Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get. Or what it’s going to give back. Several weeks before we gained accreditation as foster carers I was invited to the Blue Sky offices for a routine meeting to talk about our upcoming appearance in front of the panel of experts that has final say on whether you’re approved to foster or not. Actually,...

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A BUTLER FOR A FOSTER MUM!

Sometimes fostering is rewarding in the most unexpected ways. We had a fifteen-year-old boy, Keaton, stay with us, not for very long, three weeks as I remember. Long enough to get to know him well, and he was worth getting to know. For despite a lousy start in life he was a top lad. His mother had been all over the place with menfolk, and Keaton was one of eight. All eight with different dads....

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PROUD MOMENTS IN FOSTERING

I have a friend who is sort of Buddhist, nice. She makes a point of looking back on any job done and appreciating what has been achieved. I keep forgetting to do it, but when I do it's great, for example; Last Sunday morning, waiting for 10am to come round so I could do the supermarket run, I cleaned the kitchen, top to toe. Punished it. And afterwards took 5 minutes to look and feel pleased...

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WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO TAKE A CHILD WHO...

Waiting for a new foster child I am. Don't know who it will be, obviously. Waiting for the phone to go off and I hear the words; "Hello it's the Blue Sky Placement Team. Would you be willing to take a child who..." Probably the most effervescent time in fostering is when you've informed your agency or local authority (depending on who you've partnered) that you have space for a new foster child. The...

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CAR SICK

We're offered lots of training at Blue Sky. Okay, so it's a bit like going back to school. You sit facing someone at the front telling you stuff, sometimes with a big board behind them. Then you break for coffee and have a catch up with all your fellow foster parents' gossip. Then lunch courtesy Blue Sky. It's usually 10.00-1.00. You pick up some tips, gas away with friends and enjoy free catering....

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