Become A Foster Carer With Nexus Fostering

Why become a foster carer?

Foster care can be challenging and rewarding, and much needed to give vulnerable children and young people a safe, caring home environment whilst they’re unable to live with their birth family.

Becoming a foster carer can make a huge difference to a young person’s life, as it’s an important role to help enable young children to grow and flourish into independent, well-rounded adults.

Janet has been with Nexus Fostering for around 10 years and currently has a therapeutic placement who was originally placed with her as a parent and child placement – where both mother and child are placed with a foster family.

“Watching a child enjoying the simple things in life that they’ve never experienced is truly amazing,” she said.

Having previously worked at a school for young children with special needs, Janet gained the experience and valuable skills she could then use to become a foster carer.

Advocating on behalf of her young person, and with the support of the Nexus Fostering team, Janet has been able to give her exactly what she needs to lead a happy and healthy childhood.

All children and young people deserve the chance to live in a family setting, and Nexus Fostering can provide this opportunity for them with enhanced specialist support for their foster carers, offering an alternative to residential care for young people living with trauma.

This support is overseen by a qualified psychologist, offering a highly intensive support package to Foster Carers, providing outstanding support for young people who’ve had a difficult start in life.

“Nexus Fostering are a very good agency when it comes to the support I receive,” Janet said.

“We have a really good social worker who is amazing with our young person, whenever I’ve asked for help, they have always been able to give me the advice and support I need. Being a foster carer can be challenging at times, especially as my young person is in a wheelchair.

However, every challenging moment is worth the wonderful moments you receive in return.

“When young people arrive at their foster placement, it can be a stressful experience for them, and it is so lovely to see the transition of when children relax and chill out. They’re more fulfilled as they’re receiving more praise and enjoying the simple things in life that they haven’t had the chance to experience before.”

Sharing some of her fondest memories of being a foster carer, Janet continued: “Our young person struggles with no language to communicate with us, so when she started to touch and stroke our arm, we could sense she was starting to trust us and that is her way of communicating how she feels with us. It is just wonderful to see.”

Becoming a foster carer is a huge decision and not one to be taken lightly, but the difference you can make to a child’s life is remarkable, sharing some advice to prospective foster carers, Janet said: “Do your research, make sure you’re prepared for the commitment that it needs It can be frustrating at times, but it can be very rewarding.”

Nexus Fostering’s therapeutic fostering service is research–based, to ensure the best care is provided for children who’ve suffered trauma.

The service aims to provide a stable and nurturing home environment, while providing the therapeutic support psychological health needs in order to improve their future.

There is a need for foster carers in Harborough and the surrounding areas, so Nexus Fostering can continue to help vulnerable young people in the local area.

If you would like to join the Nexus Fostering family and learn more about the different types of foster available, click here or if you have thought about becoming a foster carer and you want to chat about your options, call the team today for an informal chat on 0800 389 0143.