Preparing For Your First Fostering Placement

Preparing for your first fostering placement can be an exciting but nerve-wracking time. Here are our top tips to help you get ready to welcome a foster child or children into your home for the first time.

Before the Placement

If you’ve recently been approved as a foster carer - congratulations! While you wait to be matched with a child or children, here are a few things you can do to get prepared for your first placement.

Meet In-Person

The Adoption and Fostering National Minimum Standards and Regulations state that wherever possible, children should be able to meet a foster carer and visit their home before a final placement decisions is made.

Your social worker will let you know whether this will be possible, and will guide you through the process of meeting your foster child for the first time.

Make a Family Book

If it isn’t possible for a child to visit you at home, you may be asked to create a welcome pack to share with them. This information could be presented in a variety of ways, such as a physical book with pictures, a slideshow presentation or a video tour of your home. This should include basic information about your home and family, ideally with photos to help them get an idea of where they’ll be living and who with.

Create a Welcoming Space

Getting your foster child’s bedroom ready for their arrival is a key aspect of preparing for your first fostering placement.

 

All foster children should have their own room, that they won’t be expected to share with other children living in the home. You may have already made some preparations during the assessment process, but now is the ideal time to put those all-important finishing touches to the room and create a welcoming space where they can relax, and feel safe.

 

As well as the basics, you might consider adding:

 

• Lamps or nighlights

• Extra blankets and cushions

• Wall decorations like pictures or murals

• A desk and chair for older children who might need to study

• A toy box and toys for younger children

• A rug or playmat

• Books, board games, and puzzles

 

When it comes to personalising the room, the child’s social worker may be able to guide you on what kinds of things your new foster child likes or enjoys, for example, if they love football, dinosaurs, or the colour pink (or all three!)

Get Stocked Up!

The first few days of your very first fostering placement are likely to be a whirlwind so it’s a good idea to get stocked up with supplies, such as food and drink, toiletries, nappies and spare clothes.

Prepare Family Members

Check in with any existing birth or adopted children and give them as much information as you can in an age-approproiate way. Let them know who will be coming to stay and when they’re likely to arrive. This gives them the opportunity to ask any questions or share any worries they might have.

 

Let close family and friends know about your upcoming placement, so they can better support you.

Remember Your Training!

All foster carers receive comprehensive training as part of the fostering assessment process, so while it’s normal to feel a little nervous before your first placement, remember that you already have the knowledge and skills to be a wonderful foster carer. That said, don’t be afraid to reach out to your social worker for support if you have any specific concerns.

On Placement Day

When it comes to the day itself, here are a few things to bear in mind.

Put Yourself in Their Shoes

While this can feel like an exciting day for you and your family, it may feel quite different for your foster child. They may arrive having just been removed from their birth family, or they might have had a fostering placement end unexpectedly.

 

They might be overwhelmed, sad, anxious or even traumatised. Remember that however they feel on arrival, this isn’t a reflection on you. They’re coming to live in a new home with a different family - possibly quite suddenly - which is unsettling at any age, no matter what the circumstances.

 

Give them a warm welcome, and let them know you’re happy to have them there, but be mindful of how they might be feeling. Older children might want some space to decompress in their new room, while younger children might appreciate a low-key, no-pressure activity to engage in on arrival, such as colouring in or watching TV.

Set Boundaries

It’s important to be clear about any key house rules and to set boundaries with your foster child from the get-go, but bear in mind they’re probably already overwhelmed, so their capacity to take in information might be reduced. Don’t go overboard with a long list of rules and expectations on the first day, stick to those that feel most important and relevant.

Help Them Get Settled In

Unless you know this will be a very temporary placement, (for example, if you’re providing a respite placement for a weekend or emergency accommodation overnight), you should encourage your foster child to unpack and get settled into their room. Ask if they want help with this, and allow them to set out their belongings and personalise their space to help them feel more at home.

Include Them In Your Plans

Invite your foster child to take part in any family activities you have planned, such as walking the dog, preparing meals, watching TV together or playing in the garden, but bear in mind that they may need some alone time too, so don’t be offended if they don’t always want to take part.

Responding to Challenges

Sometimes, foster carers experience a ‘honeymoon period’ where a foster child is on their best behaviour to begin with, and only starts to show more challenging behaviours several weeks (or months) down the line. This is completely normal, and is a sign they’re starting to feel more settled and comfortable. On the flipside, some children may test boundaries from the get-go. Either way, don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

Build Healthy Routines

If a foster child already has routines in place that work well for them, then try to stick as closely to these as possible. If not, establish a good morning and bedtime routine early on.

Fostering Babies

Baby foster carers may have additional considerations, like making sure they have specific equipment, such as carseats and highchairs. Depending on their age, babies may also need to share a room with foster carers, in accordance with NHS Safer Sleeping Guidelines.

 

While babies and very young children may not understand what is happening, they can still sense disruption and will recognise any change in caregiver or routines. Try to stick to familiar feeding and sleeping routines, and help babies feel safe and secure by responding to their needs, and offering physical comfort and reassurance.

Get Organised!

The early weeks of your first fostering placement can be a whirlwind, and you may find your schedule suddenly full! You might be asked to support or facilitate contact with birth families, attend meetings, visit new nurseries or schools, or take your foster child to health or therapeutic appointments.

 

On top of helping your foster child settle into your home, this can sometimes feel like a lot! Get organised with a calendar, diary or app on your phone. This allows you to see at a glance what’s coming up, without becoming overwhelmed by all your commitments.

Take Care of Yourself

Welcoming your first foster child into your home can be an exciting, challenging, wonderfully rewarding and exhausting time. It may be like everything or nothing you’ve ever expected.

 

In all the wonderful chaos of welcoming a new child into your family, it’s easy to forget about your own needs. To avoid becoming burnt out, make sure you’re taking care of yourself and that you know how to access support if you need it.

 

At Olive Branch, we have Carer Connect Hubs, where foster carers can meet one another and form local support networks. We also host regular events for our families, such as our recent Health & Wellbeing Event, our Careers Day for children and young people, and celebrations at Eid and Christmas.

Prepare to Foster With Olive Branch

At Olive Branch Fostering, we understand how special that first placement is for our foster carers and what a difference it makes to their journey when they feel supported. That’s why we support our carers whether they’re welcoming their very first foster child or their hundredth!

 

If you think you could provide a safe, loving home to a child in the North West, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us today to find out more about fostering with Olive Branch or book a call back with one of our friendly fostering advisors.