2017-05-25 16:15
Fostering is a topic that is frequently talked about in the media. From time to time, we like to add a few comments to one of the articles we post to our website news section. We would be de… Read More
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Fostering Agency London Blog
rainbowfostering.co.uk/blog
We are independent fostering and private foster care agency in London UK.
2017-05-24 13:42
Foster Care Fortnight has just finished for this year…but the work goes on. Not only do we face the challenge of finding over 9,000 new foster carers across the country, the day to da… Read More
2017-05-19 11:34
The leading charity, The Fostering Network, has completed an annual survey whose aim was to establish which types of foster placements were in most demand. Unsurprisingly, these were for tee… Read More
2017-05-17 14:42
The issue of fostering is rising up the news agenda as the need to find more foster carers becomes pressing. We like, occasionally, to comment on particular news stories that we post. It&rsq&hell…Read More
2017-05-15 14:00
From time to time we will feature briefly aspects of the legislation and guidance relating to looked after children. This general information should prove informative to anyone involved in f… Read More
2017-05-12 13:58
It is a fact, a sad one, that foster children often do less well than their more fortunate peers. Inevitably, the argument turns upon the often chaotic nature of foster children’s back… Read More
2017-05-12 09:27
Fostering children is a subject that is often in the news: here at Rainbow Fostering we like to take the opportunity to comment further on some of the news stories from around the country th… Read More
2017-05-10 14:30
The UK’s leading fostering charity ‘The Fostering Network’ now has its annual foster campaign underway. The intention is to promote the rewards of fostering against a backg… Read More
2017-05-09 16:15
If you foster a child or young person, it is an obvious presumption that you will be a ‘caring’ individual. A snap election has been called: parties vie with each other to burnis… Read More
2017-05-09 09:22
Fostering children is a subject regularly in the news: at Rainbow Fostering, we like the opportunity to offer a reaction to an issue in the news. We would also really like to hear the opinio… Read More
2017-05-05 11:18
Inquiry into fostering childrenWhen fostering children is in the news, at Rainbow we like the chance to give a reaction to a particular issue in the news. We would also welcome any opinions… Read More
2017-05-04 14:03
Foster a contemporary viewWhen fostering is in the news, we like the chance to offer a reaction to a particular issue that has been highlighted. We would welcome any views, or comments from… Read More
2017-05-04 11:29
We are all familiar with the maxim that “things are going to get worse before they get better”. For everyone with an interest in fostering, let us all hope we are reaching that p… Read More
2017-05-02 15:04
At Rainbow we have been placing a particular emphasis on the importance of literacy. And a big thanks to all the children’s authors who have responded to our twitter campaigns and show… Read More
2017-05-02 10:20
Here we set out to make available some general information that relates to certain aspects of fostering children that require a particular awareness. If your interest in fostering extends to… Read More
2017-04-28 10:00
Fostering and the importance of placement stability
As a brief follow up to the fostering blog about the recent publication of the Children’s Commissioner for England’s Stability… Read More
2017-04-27 09:56
If you are already an approved foster carer perhaps you have visited our web site with the idea of moving to another fostering agency. We are one of the leading independent fostering agencie… Read More
2017-04-20 13:45
In the last few days The director of operations at The Fostering Network, Melissa Green, has made a response to the recent publication of the Children Commissioner for England’s Stabi… Read More
2017-04-18 14:36
It can be challenging planning for the needs of deaf children when they come into fostering. Statistical data requirements in the UK do not require that specific types of disability be recor… Read More
2017-04-10 15:17
One senses the world of fostering is in a state of ferment. Key reports will be making their findings known later in the year; alongside this, initiatives such as the ‘Mockingbird&rsqu&hell…Read More
2017-04-10 11:23
Anyone who is fostering childrenFostering children has a value we can’t ignore is doing one of the most valuable things that it is possible to do for society. A child who end up in the… Read More
2017-03-27 15:43
Deciding to become a foster carer is a huge decision to make. Many questions will come to mind – some obvious, others less so. To foster a child is a life changing experience: in this… Read More
2017-03-07 11:26
Anyone giving serious thought to becoming a foster carer will clearly have a lot of questions about what the process involves. Becoming a foster carer is certainly life changing – for… Read More
2017-03-03 10:47
Anyone considering becoming a foster care will naturally have a whole series of questions. Becoming a foster carer is life changing. In part 1 we provide answers to some of the basic questio… Read More
2017-03-02 14:52
A recent study has painted a disturbing picture: it shows that the effects of austerity are now likely to be having a direct impact on fostering services: put simply, the figures show that m… Read More
2017-02-28 16:33
Another piece in our regular series of blogs focusing on the issues associated with fostering teenagers. If you decide you wish to foster a teenager, it is essential that you have training:… Read More
2017-02-23 10:53
It has just been reported in a landmark move that the prestigious university, Jamia Millia Islamia, will very soon be creating an entirely new resource centre to train foster carers. This wi… Read More
2017-02-21 16:56
Another in our series of blogs concentrating on the issue of fostering teenagers. Finding suitable homes for this group is presenting real challenges – especially at a time of a nation… Read More
2017-02-21 12:17
In a recent blog we looked at the difficulties faced by teenagers in the care system and some of the issues that make placing adolescents so challenging. In a continuation of our series focu… Read More
2017-02-17 14:56
Foster support for change in care provisionThank goodness for a recent Freedom of Information request: but it makes for particularly uncomfortable reading – especially for government… Read More
2017-02-16 10:40
The first in an occasional series looking at the particular issues surrounding foster care for teenagers. It is becoming harder to find placements for teenagers as their behaviour can be cha… Read More
2017-02-15 14:54
In 2016, June 7 to be precise, the Ministry of Women and Child Development set out its Model Guidelines for Foster care, including a revised procedure for the provision of group foster care… Read More
2017-02-13 16:50
The recently published ‘State of the Nation’s Foster Care’ 2016 report has drawn support from another key organisation in the fostering industry: the chief executive of the… Read More
2017-02-10 16:14
Foster up to date awarenessIt is now considerably more than a year since we started our weekly series of blogs. The issues that relate to foster carers and anyone involved in fostering child… Read More
2017-02-10 11:14
Foster online safety proceduresIf you foster children or young people, one of the biggest concerns is what they may be doing when they are online. This is true for all parents, but keeping y… Read More
2017-02-09 11:02
In the last blog (Fostering: addressing a global need) the attempt was made to portray the scale of the problems of providing foster homes for children. And what the need might be on a globa… Read More
2017-02-08 12:40
Context is always important: before thinking about what is happening on a global scale, it’s important to be aware of what is happening closer to home. Fostering is at something of a… Read More
2017-02-03 12:55
‘Initial Family and Friends Care Assessment: A Good Practice Guide’ has just been released.
For everyone involved in the world of fostering, this has been endorsed by the UK&rsqu&hell…Read More
2017-02-02 17:08
Recent blogs have paid attention to the subject of literacy. Anyone fostering children will know the importance of supporting a child’s education. To further set the context and emphas… Read More
2017-01-31 14:57
This has been written as a companion piece to the recent blog ‘Foster a notion of true value’ because the timing of a recent news item is so apposite. That blog focused particula… Read More
2017-01-30 15:32
We get a lot of enquiries where people just want a simple definition of what fostering is. Those of us who work in the industry have an understanding of all the nuances and complexities that… Read More
2017-01-30 12:27
We live in an age of cynics, but this is not new: Oscar Wilde had it – both accurately and presciently, that the cynic is ‘a man who knows the price of everything and the value o… Read More
2017-01-27 14:46
If you talk to most people about their ideas of what it is like to foster, their likely reaction will be that fostering is a confusing world. Rainbow are an independent fostering agency (IFA… Read More
2017-01-18 11:16
The first in a brief series of articles suggesting activities that will help you to foster a strong relationship with the child that you care for. The temperature has plunged and you have a… Read More
2017-01-17 14:07
Fostering children is a journey for everyone concerned. Each foster carer will be creating a unique story…and it’s one that can last a lifetime. The issue of fostering children… Read More
2017-01-17 10:23
All carers know that fostering children means being aware of risks all the time. The main requirement that foster carers are asked to meet is to provide a stable and secure environment: ther… Read More
2017-01-16 15:15
A brief reminder relating to basic considerations that need to be applied if you are actively thinking of fostering children or young people. Successful foster parents come from all walks of… Read More
2017-01-13 10:46
Another in our series which examines the state of fostering and who can foster in India as a prelude to Rainbow International’s “Fostering Children for a Better Nation”: ou… Read More
2017-01-10 14:53
In the summer of 2014, the government embarked upon one of the most detailed reviews of the Special Educational Needs and Disability reforms (SEND) for nearly 30 years. If you foster, this i… Read More
2017-01-09 16:02
Foster a child and grow the reading habit
Another brief piece on literacy development: if you foster a very young child, it is important to understand that before they can read and write, th… Read More
2017-01-05 11:08
The world of education, veering from one initiative and government policy to another – as it does (and probably will go on doing if the last few decades are anything to go by); can to… Read More
2016-12-20 15:57
Another in our series where we set out to provide some general information relating to aspects of fostering children that require a particular awareness. If you are the kind of foster carer… Read More
2016-12-19 15:53
2016 was significant in that it was the year that one of our communities, the Jewish community, found they were experiencing a crisis in foster care. Experts have warned that essential servi… Read More
2016-12-19 12:40
Another occasional piece where we provide some background information covering aspects of fostering children that call for particular awareness. If you are the kind of foster carer able to g… Read More
2016-12-16 14:32
An occasional piece where we provide answers to some of the more frequently asked questions that those fostering children have. It is unfortunate, but allegations are made and a recurring qu… Read More
2016-12-15 13:04
What you can expect from our ‘Skills to Foster’ fostering training course…
‘Skills to Foster’ is the pre-approval training course that we run at Rainbow. All f… Read More
2016-12-14 14:43
Continuing with Rainbow’s international project “Fostering Children for a Better Nation”, inspired by agency director Aijaz Ahmad, we continue our series on fostering in In… Read More
2016-12-13 15:11
The deadline for written submissions called for by the Education Committee, as part of their inquiry into fostering in England, was the 25th November. We are now in that period where views a… Read More
2016-12-07 10:26
This Saturday saw Rainbow Fostering celebrate its 18th anniversary in true style – our annual foster carer awards – one of the hottest Christmas tickets in town. Although the ni… Read More
2016-12-06 11:38
Poor humans. And especially those with the responsibility of child fostering. I am minded of the cautionary tale of Pandora’s box. We are all of us either infatuated with, or enforced… Read More
2016-12-02 10:35
This year it has been widely reported that there is a shortfall of over 9,000 families in the UK for child fostering. So it is timely that The Fostering Network’s initiative exploring… Read More
2016-11-29 12:32
This Saturday Rainbow Fostering held its annual children’s awards at our headquarters. Always a special occasion, this year’s ceremony was just that little bit extra special as i… Read More
2016-11-28 14:27
We recently wrote on the subject of the importance of foster carers being supported to maintain a good level of general fitness. There is no doubt that the maxim ‘Fit body fit mind&rsq&hell…Read More
2016-11-10 11:01
Anyone connected with fostering will know the difficulties there are in placing children with behavioural problems. There are different ways of tackling this: one route is to provide foster… Read More
2016-11-04 16:09
Foster a child and the type of schooling they receive will be very important to you. Finland has a comprehensive school system that has been noticed the world over. It is firmly established… Read More
2016-11-04 14:02
Fostering children means making a clear commitment to their education. So it is valuable to think about education in broader terms and how it is delivered in other countries. Finland is rank… Read More
2016-11-03 13:56
Fostering and our education system
If you are involved in fostering, that the education system has again recently been described as mediocre, has to be a serious concern.
For decades now, ed… Read More
2016-10-27 09:53
If you are the kind of person that thrives upon a challenge, then please read on. Fostering teenagers – especially those who have experienced repeated placement breakdowns, will be a s… Read More
2016-10-26 10:56
The media has been preoccupied over recent weeks by the refugee crisis. Fact and figures jostle for attention and the controversy rages as reports of ‘children’ who are in realit… Read More
2016-10-17 13:52
There are many challenges in fostering children – obviously – and looking after youngsters from completely different cultures from far flung parts of the world, will pose unique… Read More
2016-10-14 13:30
An occasional Rainbow series just taking a casual look at things to consider to enrich your fostering experience. If you are fostering children, you’ll almost certainly have come acros… Read More
2016-10-14 09:32
The last blog – as part of the background to Rainbow International Fostering’s initiative in India – looked at the way family structures have been organised in India. Most… Read More
2016-10-12 13:21
What do we mean by family? On reflection, it is a term that can apply to different concepts: we can, for example, apply it to large numbers of people if we think of the idea of a family of n… Read More
2016-10-07 11:37
When considering the issues that relate to foster care in the UK, it quickly becomes apparent that there is an amazing degree of complexity with opinion usually divided. Different government… Read More
2016-10-04 11:40
Private fostering agencies have a great many things to consider in every care plan for a child or young person in which they are involved. There are a number of givens that an agency is enti… Read More
2016-09-30 13:54
There are now many issues attaching to fostering children that need to be firmly on the public agenda. And the list, it seems, continues to grow. Private fostering agencies have to be aware… Read More
2016-09-27 14:21
Finding people to consider fostering is tough to say the least. Efforts are being made up and down the country by local authorities: the same is true for an independent fostering agency like… Read More
2016-09-20 09:22
Fostering or adoption?
Anyone thinking about becoming a foster carer will know it is a big decision – not one to be taken lightly. There are many misconceptions and understandably… Read More
2016-09-16 14:45
With the migration of people from war ravaged parts of the globe happening on an unprecedented scale, politicians are facing a crisis for which there has been no chance to prepare. What is b… Read More
2016-09-14 15:50
We are an independent fostering agency and are dedicated to providing the very best fostering services. When fostering children, safety in the home is very important at all times. In part 2… Read More
2016-09-13 15:39
As part of the process of becoming an approved foster carer, you will be required to have a health and safety check conducted. Fostering children means being aware of the many obvious, and n… Read More
2016-09-13 09:49
Why do we need the Arts? Not a question that might naturally spring to the mind of someone involved in the rough and tumble of fostering children. Especially, a question that could have phil… Read More
2016-09-09 12:33
It has been realised in recent years, that there has been a considerable amount of past sexual abuse that has gone unrecognised. Given that the effects to an individual’s life can be s… Read More
2016-09-06 13:29
All providers of fostering services know that children, sadly, have always been exploited. Not so very long ago, chimney sweeps took ‘apprentices’; usually from the work house an… Read More
2016-09-02 14:41
Talk to most people about fostering services, and their likely reaction will be that it is quite a confusing world. As an independent fostering agency (IFA), our first task is to break down… Read More
2016-09-01 11:08
Another example for those working in foster care, were it needed of government being in full possession of all the information and refusing to act for the collective good. Do we actually hav… Read More
2016-08-30 15:14
It can be especially difficult assessing and planning for the needs of deaf children when they come into foster care. Statistical data requirements in the UK do not require that specif… Read More
2016-08-25 11:15
Why the Arts are so important in fostering
Children coming into care are often disadvantaged in so many ways compared to their more fortunate peers. The headline grabbing issues around abuse… Read More
2016-08-23 15:18
There are many pressures involved when fostering children. In many ways these are relative – a forgotten lunchbox for school, for example, isn’t serious – perhaps just irri… Read More
2016-08-19 13:29
Despite there being obvious agreement between care professionals, commissioners and families that placement stability is key, there remains a single depressing fact about foster care
Foster… Read More
2016-08-18 15:26
Fostering with Rainbow brings many benefits
Building fostering knowledge
Just a little over a year ago we launched our weekly blog series. Our goal was to write on matters affecting fo… Read More
2016-08-16 11:04
The services that are available for children when they enter the fostering system should be second to none. This is because they need all the support possible – being so heavily disad… Read More
2016-08-15 15:11
In the drive to find people interested in fostering children, every approach has to be considered. With a current shortfall of over 9,000 families in the UK, and experienced carers retiring… Read More
2016-08-15 09:48
Back in November of last year we noted: with the shortage of people coming forward interested in child fostering becoming ever more acute across the UK, it will be interesting to keep track… Read More
2016-08-10 12:32
Put very simply, the role of an independent fostering agency is to find foster homes for local authority ‘looked after children’. Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) have been… Read More
2016-08-09 14:07
Foster carers who wish to transfer between agencies, or from a local authority to an agency have the right and freedom to do so. With all transfers, the primary consideration must be that &l&hell…Read More
2016-08-05 13:29
Child fostering has many different aspects. There are, for example, different categories of fostering placements from emergency placements, short break and respite care placements through to… Read More
2016-08-03 14:50
It is reasonable to ask why this choice exists at all. In the past, it was only the local authorities (LAs), who had the task of placing children in foster homes who, for whatever reasons, c… Read More
2016-08-03 13:59
When the term ‘humanism’ is brought up, it has a tendency to polarise opinion: but it has been changing in meaning over the centuries. During the Renaissance, it described a scho… Read More
2016-08-01 10:35
In the UK, approximately 100,000 children and young people will find themselves caught up in the care system. Of these, most will be placed with foster carers. A relatively small proportion… Read More
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