Do you have time for teenagers?
Being a teenager isn’t easy but if you are faced with other problems, life can be even more difficult.
Warwickshire’s Fostering Service is appealing for caring people from all ages and backgrounds in Warwickshire to foster teenagers.
“We want to reach people who can get past the stereotypes of teenagers and provide a caring environment for them to grow up in”, said Sylvia Vickers of Warwickshire County Council’s Fostering Service.
She added: “We realise that dealing with teenagers isn’t easy but if you are good at offering emotional and practical support and can deal with mood swings and challenging behaviour we would like to hear from you.”
Foster carers in Warwickshire currently provide homes for around 450 children but the county is facing a shortage of carers when it comes to teenage fostering. The County Council is keen to ensure that young people from all age groups have the same scope of choice when it comes to being looked after.
Shirley Howes from Kenilworth has been foster caring for teenagers for more than 25 years. Shirley said: “Teenagers can be quite scared and defensive when they first come into your care. It’s important to be laid back and let them come to you and chat in their own time. It’s really rewarding when you build up their trust.”
Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “Every child, whatever their age, has the right to a family life. Teenagers often face a great deal of stigma but through good foster carers they can be given support to create opportunities for them to feel good about themselves.”
There are a number of different types of foster care, depending on the needs of children. They include short-term placements that require a commitment of one weekend a month to others that last for many years. As a result, a wide range of different people are needed to perform this vital role. Warwickshire County Council’s fostering team is keen to recruit carers who are good at communicating with teenagers. They also have to be caring, tolerant, consistent, understanding and have a good sense of humour.
Full training and support is given to carers and they are paid an allowance that reflects the real cost of looking after a child.
If you are interested please contact Sylvia Vickers on 01926 413313 or visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/fostering