Chris is chatting to the fostering team about the latest addition to her family, a shy, young teenage boy, who’ll be staying with her until a permanent place can be found for him to live.
Though he sits quietly on the grass by himself, Chris is sure some time spent in a loving, supportive environment will draw him out of his shell.
Chris, who lives nearby, has popped down to Alexandra Park to one of the hugely popular Play in the Park events, organised by Hastings Borough Council throughout August.
She talks to the Recruitment Co-ordinator for East Sussex County Council Fostering Services, about getting her brother some information on becoming a foster carer.
Nationally there is a shortage of foster carers and Hastings is no exception. East Sussex County Council Fostering team have set up a stall in the park to promote fostering and says she’d be happy if she could get another ten people across the town to sign up.
She said:
“At the moment we have 40 plus carers across Hastings and St Leonards, but we could really do with a few more. People tend to think there are only two options: go to work or stay at home, which can be financially difficult. I think the message we would like to get across is that there is a third option and it means you can work as part of a professional child care team from your own home and make a decent living.”
She said:
“The needs of children are so diverse that we need people from all different backgrounds and walks of life. The main requirement is that they meet the needs of the children.”
There is a shortage in particular of foster carers from minority ethnic backgrounds and carers willing to take on children aged five years upwards, or siblings.
Chris has been working as a carer for eight years; she particularly enjoys looking after school age children and loves the sibling groups. She has given up looking after very young babies, because she feels she has plenty to offer older children and teenagers and she gets a lot of satisfaction from watching them blossom into young adults.
She said:
“I just love children. Mine had grown up and it just seemed like the logical step. It’s just fantastic seeing them change, especially when they have come from difficult backgrounds. At the moment I’ve got three boys with me and although they are only short stay I get to know each of them and their individual personalities.
“It’s not an easy job; you have to be really dedicated to it and you do get some difficult youngsters, but I love each and every one of them.”
Children are fostered for a number of reasons from a parent being in hospital to cases of severe neglect.
The basic allowance for a foster carer is from between £240 to £270 per child, per week.
Foster carers are given full training and back up.
They can train for more challenging fostering roles such as looking after young parents and children.
Fore more information about fostering contact the team on 01323 747499 or e-mail fostering@eastsussex.gov.uk
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This page last updated: 29/09/2004