Could you become part of our fostering community?

Staff from the Family Placement Team will be available as follows:

• Monday 15 May: Galashiels Interchange; 11am-2pm
• Thursday 18 May: Topiary Coffee Shop, Mayfield Garden Centre, Kelso; 10am-12noon
• Friday 19 May: Teviotdale Leisure Centre Café, Hawick; 11am-2pm
• Thursday 25 May: Greenhouse Café, Milestone Garden Centre, Newtown St Boswells; 10am-12noon
• Friday 26 May: Greenhouse Café, Milestone Garden Centre, Newtown St Boswells; 11am-2pm

The sessions are part of our ongoing commitment to recruiting foster carers who are able to care for children and young people, aged between 0–21, who are in need of a family placement. We have a particular need for carers who would be interested in supporting:

• older children
• sibling groups
• disabled children
• unaccompanied asylum seeking children.

We are also looking for carers to provide short breaks for children with complex needs and disabilities. This involves providing weekend breaks and short term periods of care for children who continue to live at home with their parents.

Councillor Carol Hamilton, Executive Member for Developing our Children and Young People

“All children have the right to grow up in a loving and stable home supported by people who can love them, be ambitious for them and help them achieve their potential. Unfortunately there are some circumstances where they are unable to live with their birth families and need to be cared for by foster carers.

“Every day in homes across the Borders, our dedicated team of carers have made the commitment to do all they can to support some of our region’s most vulnerable children and young people. They do an incredible job and we should all be extremely grateful to them.

“If you think you’ve got the motivation, skills and experience to become part of this close-knit and vitally important fostering community, please get in touch. The drop-in sessions are an excellent way of finding out more and asking any questions you might have. Staff can explain about all the benefits of working with our Family Placement Team including the payments and allowances that you’ll be entitled to and details of the training and support that is provided. If you’re unable to make it to any of the sessions, don’t hesitate to pick up the phone at a time that suits you as enquiries are always welcome.”

Get in touch

To find out more, contact the Family Placement Team on 01896 662799 or or visit the Fostering pages of our website. You can also follow the team on Facebook at: @ScottishBordersFosteringandAdoption

More information

• Foster carers come from all walks of life and may be single or in an enduring partnership. They need to have had experience of looking after or working with children and be able to provide positive parenting with patience and understanding. This will include a genuine interest in children and young people and having an enjoyment of their company. Being patient and having the ability to listen, understand and communicate with young people is also important. Many foster carers have had previous careers in child or social care, for example, while others have child care experience with children in their own families and communities.
• Foster carers attend a wide range of training pre and post approval. They are also provided with a supervising social worker who provides regular support and supervision, and are paid a fee as well as a maintenance allowance to cover costs for caring for each child.
• Applicants need to be in reasonable health and in settled circumstances. A full assessment as to their suitability is carried out which includes statutory checks. They also need to attend a preparatory training course as part of the assessment process.
• Foster Care Fortnight™ is the UK’s biggest foster care awareness raising campaign, delivered by leading fostering charity, The Fostering Network. Established in 1997, the campaign showcases the commitment, passion and dedication of foster carers. More information is available on the Fostering Network website.