The Word
Fostering With A Difference Action for Children have built a fostering service in Northern Ireland that they are proud of. Why? Because their fostering families are at the heart of everything they do. As Avery, fostering services manager, said: “Our foster carers aren’t just a piece of paper or a number. They are not just an assessment. In our fostering service, everybody knows your name. You are a person. You are a potential family in the making.” Stability is key at Action for Children. The charity specialises in creating stable long-term fostering families. Every time a young person is moved, it has a detrimental effect on them. A longterm home provides them with the opportunity to put down roots and to experience family life. It can give them a second chance to have a childhood. Matching is so important in finding the right home for a young person. Action for Children consider the skills and strengths of foster carers and the needs of a young person. Time and time again, this extra time and consideration has resulted in strong matches and stable placements. Nicky, a foster carer, said: “Action for Children are all about matching the right child to you and your home. During the assessment process they had the time to get to know me as a person. They knew what child would be suited to me. They couldn’t have got it more right.” To ensure foster carers can fully look after the young people in their care, Action for Children offer a package of intensive support. This includes a 24/7 support line, a dedicated fostering social worker, peer support groups, and developmental training. The fostering service also has a low turnover of staff and so support is consistently provided by a familiar face. Jennifer, a foster carer, said: “We rely on our social workers a lot. Without them, you couldn’t do this job. If we need advice or help, we just lift up the phone. To be fair, it doesn’t matter who answers. Because it’s a smaller organisation, they all know our case. It’s like a family of social workers.”
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When you foster with Action for Children, you become part of the family. If you would like to find out more about fostering, call 028 9046 0500, email fostercareni@actionforchildren.org.uk or visit actionforchildren.org.uk/fostering. 174
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