Could you foster a child?

Council Aim To Boost Local Awareness in Fostering Fortnight

It takes a remarkable, selfless and dedicated individual to take on someone else�s child and provide them with a loving home. Hounslow�s Family Placement Service are currently looking for 109 such loving homes for their children in need.

The aim of Fostering Fortnight is to promote awareness of the children�s plight and encourage suitable adults to come forward. The fostering criteria places no restrictions on an individual�s status, you can be single, gay, married, employed or unemployed. The most important factor is that you are able to provide a child with a safe and loving home.

Children need to be fostered when their families are unable to look after them. This could mean for a few days or weeks or in some cases for much longer.

Looking after children and young people can be challenging, but Hounslow Family Placement Service recognises and values the important role the carers carry out and acknowledges the challenges they often face when fostering. They have a unique support package for foster carers that other foster agencies are keen to adopt.

Pre-Fostering Training
� We have a 24-hour out of hours support service being developed
� Regular professional training along side with e.g. Social Workers, Teachers and Health Staff
� NVQ training
� Generous weekly allowance to meet the needs of the child placed
� Pre and post support for your own children

A Carers Consultation Officer
� Working with carers to the promote identity, cultural and religious needs of children/young people in their care
� To prevent placement breakdown and reduce the number of moves experienced by children/young people
� To provide support and guidance tailored to the specific needs of the placement.
� To assist and provide support to foster carers during the transition period of children moving on to permanent places
� Offer consultation with other professionals working with foster carers

If you would like to know more about fostering for Hounslow please call 0800 731 8558