Fostering - How we can support you

How We Support You...

As a Foster Carer you play a vital role. You become part of the Children's Services Team, and as such are provided with all the support that you will need. Wrexham's support package is outlined below.

Training Opportunities

As a potential Foster Carer you will receive pre-approval training during your application and assessment period. The pre-approval training is a course of six 2 hour sessions and is designed to provide you with the necessary information required to gain a realistic picture of what's involved in providing care for vulnerable children. You'll have the opportunity to meet other Foster Carers, Social Workers and staff from the Family Placement Team including support workers and our finance officer.

Once approved you will be invited to attend a variety of different courses to learn about various aspects of caring for children. All foster carers are encouraged to study for the NVQ level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People.

Childcare is always made available to allow you to attend the training courses.

Personal Support

You'll have a personal Supervising Social Worker who will be your main contact within the team and assist you throughout your fostering career. There are also support workers within the team, who you will be introduced to; they will support you at the start of each new placement and at any other time when support is requested. Your Supervising Social Worker stays in touch with you regularly, by telephone and by visiting you to help with any problems that may arise.

If you need advice outside normal working hours, a 24 hour carer support line staffed by other Foster Carers is available, in addition to the support received from your Supervising Social worker. If you occasionally need a break from looking after children, either for a couple of hours, a weekend or a week, we make every attempt to provide a respite placement for the child.

We also keep in touch with all our carers with a regular newsletter, where we can update you on any developments within Children's Services.

Financial Support

You will receive a fee for fostering, lower fee paid when you register to undertake your NVQ and a higher fee is paid when you achieve this. You will also be paid an allowance for each child you have in placement. There is extra amounts payable for birthdays, holidays and Christmas. We also help if you need specific equipment for a placement, such as a bed, chest of drawers, high chair or car seat etc.

Any extra training you attend, or skills you develop, will be taken into account for your NVQ 3 in Caring for Children and Young People and when this qualification is achieved you will move to the higher fee.

The Wrexham Fostering Association

On approval you will automatically become a member of the Wrexham Foster Care Association which is run by other Foster Carers in the area. You will also become a member of the fostering network, a national organisation for foster carers. Both can provide you with advice, information and assistance.