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 delighted to hear back from anyone with a point of view on this piece; or indeed any other aspect of Fostering that you feel strongly about.

And so most recently!
We are at a new frontier: an App ‘Fostering in a Digital World’ for Foster Carers has just been launched. We are told, reliably, it’s the first fostering App of its kind. It’s sure not to be the last.
It is an HSC App (Health & Social Care) for foster carers and was launched in Northern Ireland.
This is undoubtedly an innovative product which will transform a key aspect of fostering which is all about encouraging communication. The Chief Social Work Officer at the launch, Sean Holland; apart from commenting positively on the design, stated –

“While I welcome the training, support and advice it provides to foster carers in how to keep children safe in an on-line world, one of its key strengths is the guidance and advice it provides on the language required to aid discussion and engagement with children and young people – in other words, to be able to talk their language. I am hopeful that foster carers will be find it useful, will be empowered by it and that children will be kept safer on-line as a result of it.”

The Manager of the HSC Trust, Brendan Whittle, recognised that when fostering teenagers especially, carers could find it hard to know where to turn to for help – particularly over issues such as online safety as well as potential negative effects of social media. The ‘Fostering in a Digital World’ App enables foster carers to access ‘Trust’ procedures at a single click on whichever platform they use: this includes phones (Apple or Android), tablets and PC’s. It represents a great opportunity for anyone with fostering concerns to get advice and reassurance. Already the App is being utilised for training and foster carers are even able to acquire a digital certificate.

Comment.
It’s not just the world of technology that is constantly moving on, it’s the world itself. The problem with pervasive technology in our world is that it can all too easily divide generations. This is not planned, it just happens. The world of social media would have been too strange for that generation of parents in the 1960’s and 1970’s to come close to imagining. Then a long distance phone call to some far flung part of the globe had an aura of magic about it. This new App is to be applauded for several reasons: perhaps the most important is that when young people can see their elders getting to grips with technology and reaping a benefit, it closes the divide. If you are fostering, good communication is vital and teenagers can be notoriously uncommunicative. Young people will relate far better to people who are familiar with, and use the ‘tools’ of their world. Another cause for celebration is how this App actually came into being. It underwent development with a group of foster carers and professionals – directly facilitating communication between the five HSC Trust’s fostering services and their carers. This means it has been developed with the active participation of the people that it is intended for.

People who are fostering are also able to access the INEQE Group who will provide updates. One foster carer working for the Trust said of her experience with the App –
“Within the first ten minutes of using the App, I already learned several things that I didn’t know before. I now use it on a daily basis to stay up-to-date with the technologies that young people are growing up with – because of the learning within the App and knowing advice is only ever one click away on my mobile phone, I feel much more confident now in keeping young people that I care for safe online.”

And moving on…
Our own very special project to provide fostering services in India continues to move forward.
We are on the verge of having the land allocated, within the campus of the Jamia Millia Islamia University, for the first dedicated national fostering resource. Once constructed, it will be known as the ‘National Foster Care Institute’.

Some of the things needing to be considered before fostering.
It’s been said many times, but fostering is a life altering experience. Yes, there are pressures, but these are compensated by the unique rewards fostering brings. At Rainbow Fostering we are always happy to provide guidance. So you can call our knowledgeable Recruitment Team on 020 8427 3355. Here are just a few things you might want to consider:

Can you love a looked after child as your own?
Ask some crucial questions before you make a decision to start fostering children.
Do you have the time and resources for fostering a challenging child?
Do you have the emotional resilience needed for fostering children?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions
Do you have a sense of humour?
Can you keep regular records about the child in your care?
Are you able to be a team player

For a more information about what is involved in fostering children and young people: visit http://bit.ly/2pc8SEc

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