Have you heard of parent & child fostering?

As you start your fostering journey you will be doing your research into the different types of foster care, but have you come across parent and child foster care?

Probably not, yet the demand for parent and child arrangements is extremely high.

So, what is parent and child fostering?

In a parent and child arrangement both the parent (mother or father) and the child comes to live in the fostering household. The parent will need extra guidance and support to enable them to bond with their baby or young child.

The aim of this type of arrangement is the support and encouragement of the parent rather than the child, using your expertise as a foster parent to help them set boundaries and create healthy routines. There are many reasons why this arrangement will have been made, perhaps the parent has not had positive parenting experiences themselves or they could be living with mental health issues which means they just need that bit of extra support to help them be the best parent they can be.

It is vital in this type of arrangement that your focus be on the parent and giving them the tools they need to support their child. You will build an effective relationship with them, so they can form a connection with their child.

What skills do you need to be a parent and child carer?

Capstone Foster Care will provide you with all of the specialist training in order for you to be able to accommodate this type of arrangement.

However, there are some crucial basic skills that you will need to have.

-        Supportive. This is not about taking over as a parent, but gently guiding and suggesting new techniques to an often vulnerable parent.

-        Flexible. You will need to be adaptable to varying situations. Most parent and child arrangements are short term.

-        Observative. The aim of this arrangement is to equip the parent with the skills that they need to continue to thrive in parenthood, so part of your role will be to observe and record the progress that they make in the time that they are with you.

As with all fostering you will need to have a spare room, in the case of parent and child arrangements you will need a spare room with adequate space to provide a safe and comfy environment for both parent and child.

Why be a parent and child foster carer?

Ultimately, the goal of any fostering arrangement is reunification with the child’s family. But an effective parent and child arrangement can prevent a child from having to be removed from the family unit in the long term, meaning less disruption for the child and a better chance to break negative parenting experiences.

“What I love about parent and child placements, is when the mum or dad finally form that special bond with the baby. It is so rewarding to watch, and I feel privileged to be part of that special moment.” Pat, Capstone Foster Carer.

The rewards in these arrangements are two-fold, not only does a child have a better chance in life but a parent has also been granted an opportunity to grow and form a meaningful and lasting relationship with their own child.

If this sounds like something you would like to know more about why not give one of our friendly team a call today on 0800 012 4004.