Care and support

More about fostering and what it is

What Is Fostering?
When children are unable to live with their own family we aim to find them alternatives. That is why we need foster carers in Hertfordshire, to help us to care for the 800 children who are currently being looked after by Hertfordshire County Council.

There are many reasons why Hertfordshire County Council looks after these children; there may be a crisis in the family, ill health, relationship difficulty or bereavement. Some children and young people need to be looked after because they have experienced abuse and need to be protected. Some just need to be looked after for a short period before returning to their family. Others will need to be looked after for much longer.

We try to keep children from the same family together. Foster carers provide homes for children of all ages from babies to teenagers. When children are unable to live with their own families, foster carers provide alternative care in their own homes, to allow time for difficulties to be sorted out. The time children stay may vary from day care to overnight stays, regular planned weekends or holiday stays to weeks, months and several years.


How do we place the children?
We place children with foster carers who live locally so that children can continue their schooling and stay in contact with family and friends. It is also important for children to be in families that reflect their racial, religious and cultural heritage whenever possible.

Qualities of a good foster carer
Foster carers need to be sensitive to the experiences and different needs of the children and young people they look after. They will be unsettled because of the changes in their lives and they may be very confused, angry or vulnerable.

Many children who are fostered return to their families.

Foster care situations
Sometimes long term fostering is preferable to adoption for some children who cannot return to their families.

Caring for teenagers and helping them to prepare for independence is an important fostering task. So is helping a child move successfully to a permanent adoptive family.

Fostering is both a challenging and a rewarding job. Our foster carers are important members of a team, working towards the best interests of each child. They share responsibility for the children they look after with parents and the local authority.

We do not expect our foster carers to work in isolation. We give support, supervision and training to help them provide a quality service for children in need.

Could I foster?

The usual answer is YES! People of all ages, races, religions and cultures are foster carers. You can apply to foster if you are:

• Single, married or living together
• With or without children of your own
• Disabled
• In your twenties or in retirement
• Working or at home

Want to know more?

If you would like to find out more about fostering you can register an interest using the online form - go to the link on the right hand side of this page called "Register an interest in adoption." You will then be contacted by a member of the fostering team who will answer any questions you might have. Or call us on 0800 917 0925 to get an information pack.