What we need in a foster carer

It sounds obvious, but it really matters. Children and young people who have experienced trauma, neglect or abuse, need somewhere to stay where they can feel safe and secure. They may take some time to build trust and feel safe, and need caring and supportive adults who can help them with skills and strategies to attend school, build friendships, learn to play, have fun and begin their own recovery.

Carers need ‘to not sweat the small stuff’ and to accept that they need to build a connection with the child or young person before they can really feel a sense of belonging.

The saying ‘it takes a village, to raise a child’ is never more important than it is when caring for a child or young person.

A foster carer needs to be able to work alongside the child or young person, their family and Child Safety Officer (CSO) to meet agreed goals for the child or young person. Foster carers also need to work closely with a team of therapeutic supports and services to be able to offer a positive environment in which the child or young person can thrive. A foster carer must be willing to learn different ways of interacting with and supporting a child who has experienced trauma and be open to professional advice about their techniques and approaches.

The child or young person has an assigned CSO who is responsible for making sure that their physical, psychological, emotional and educational needs are met. They will also work with you to organise contact visits with family members and talk with you about legal matters, meetings or restoring the child or young person to their family.

As a carer you will also be supported by the provider you deliver foster care through. They will help you to navigate the role of being a foster carer and build your connection with the child or young person and their Care Team.

Each child or young person will have a Care Team to support them to be safe and well. Foster carers are a central member of the Care Team.

Often children who have experienced trauma require specialised parenting techniques to support them with their pain-based behaviours.

We don’t expect foster carers to be experts, but caring for children or young people who need foster care requires relevant knowledge and skills to meet the needs of children who have experienced trauma. We will ask you to learn different ways of parenting to help a children to build relationships and skills for the future. We need foster carers to be open to building their capability through reading material or attending training.

Sometimes not everything goes to plan, and a foster carer needs to be flexible. Having the ability to ask the right person for help when this happens is important. A foster carer who shows resilience can help a child or young person build their own skills for the future.

Children in care have a right to privacy and for their stories and circumstances to be kept confidential. Foster carers are asked to be respectful of the child or young person’s cultures or traditions and be open to them observing religious or cultural practices. Foster carers will be asked to actively encourage participation in Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultural activities. Children need acceptance and respect for their birth families of origin and an acceptance of the right to have contact with their birth family and extended family.

In conjunction with the Tasmanian Commissioner for Children and Young People and the CREATE Foundation, a Charter of Rights (PDF, 888KB) has been developed for children living in foster care. Foster carers are expected to uphold these important rights.

Foster carers need to keep an open mind and reserve judgement about the experiences of the families of children and young people in their care. Every family is different, and many families face incredible challenges. Children and young people do best when all of the adults around them show respect for each other and can communicate and interact well.

Children in care have a range of physical and emotional needs. Supporting them to feel safe and connected is a priority. A supportive care environment helps children and young people to settle into care while maintaining a relationship with their families. Foster carers are asked to help with transport to family visits and provide children and young people with patience and understanding when they express their feelings about being away from their families and homes.

Helping children to participate in sporting, community or cultural activities is also part of the role of a foster carer. Foster carers may also be asked to undertake therapeutic play with the child or young person or attend medical or counselling appointments with them.

Children and young people in care talk about their hopes of having a childhood or home environment that isn’t observably different to their peers.

A sense of humour and playfulness is a key ingredient for foster carers. Connecting with the child or young person, playing fun child led games, being active, and generally being playful all help them to feel a sense of inclusion and belonging.

A foster carer is someone who can get to know the child or young person, listen to them, and understand how to best meet their needs. Foster carers can play a vital role to convey the voice of the child with the members of the Care Team, including professionals and non-professionals, to support the child or young person. There may be many people involved in the life of a child or young person, but their voice is the most important.