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First Steps Fostering are an independent fostering agency specialising in parent and child foster placements. This specialism allows us to focus on delivering excellent quality, stable placements, whilst also providing support and training that is tailored to the specific needs of the foster carer’s and their role within First Steps.

There are a number of benefits to fostering with First Steps, which include:

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• Weekly supervision – you will have weekly supervision sessions with your fostering social worker where we will look at the needs of the parent and child in your care, as well as the needs of your family directly.

• Frequent phone contact – our carers have contact from their fostering social worker by phone or text on a frequent and regular basis. We are always on hand to offer support and guidance.

• Out of hours support – there is 24 hour telephone support every day of the year. We are always contactable , whatever the time of the day. 

• Birth children support and events – First Steps fostering appreciate that fostering involves not only the foster carer’s but also their own birth children. As such it is important for us that we provide support to birth children whilst also providing them with an opportunity to engage in activities with other young people whose parents are also in the fostering role. 

• Regular Social events including exciting days out, family fun days, festive parties throughout the year

• Two weeks paid planned breaks – First Steps foster carers will be given 2 weeks planned breaks per year without a parent and child should this be necessary. This time is for you to re-gather as a family and recharge your batteries. You will continue to be paid your fostering fee whilst you take your planned breaks. 

• Day care for parent and child at least once per month. This time will enable you as a carer to attend to ‘life admin’ without the responsibility of the parent and child for a period of time.

• Team meetings – carers will attend monthly team meetings with other carers and staff. This will be your opportunity to come together as a team, contribute to the development of the service and have your say.

• Individual membership to Fostering Network.

• Comprehensive Preparation and Induction Training – you will receive at least 3 days training before you start to foster, and individual coaching from your assessing worker. In the early days of fostering we will make sure that you have covered all the fostering induction standards set down by government, and that you are fully guided and supported by your supervising social worker.

• A regular programme of training will be in place for each foster carer, with their own individual training development plan.

• Monthly core training or skills share groups – core fostering skills will be developed through monthly group training or skills share sessions. We cover topics such as: attachment; behaviour support; safeguarding; the impact of abuse; mental health; substance misuse; developmental stages; and independent living skills. Annual refresher training will be available and courses will build on your existing knowledge.

 

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