Recent statistics show that more than 7,000 children are in the Care System in Wales, with a significant portion of these in foster care placements. With approximately 4,875 of those children actually in Foster Care, it’s no wonder professional, skilled, well-established, reputable, Agencies such as saferfostering.org.uk/foster-care-wales/ are crying out for more, empathetic, kind, caring, Foster Care Wales Families to step forward and take some of these unfortunate, youngsters into their care and protection in the safety of their own homes.
Some of the qualities required to become a Foster Carer are patience, empathy, consistency, strong communication skills, open-mindedness, and resilience, in order to navigate the complexities of fostering, while maintaining a stable, and loving environment for the child. Acting as a positive role model and providing a real sense of stability, even when things get difficult, not giving up on the child and taking their negative, past experiences and turning them into a bright and positive future. Patience is an essential quality, needed for understanding and supporting children who may take time to adjust to their new environment.
Alongside honesty and fairness, being truthful and treating children equitably helps build trust. Being able to stay calm under pressure will help create a stable environment and resolve stressful situations. A willingness to adjust your own routines and lifestyles to meet a child’s unique needs and changing circumstances is vital. Remember, many of these children will have experienced traumatic situations and their behaviours could reflect this.
