We are currently seeking to recruit foster carers who are able to offer specialist care to children with physical disabilities or medical conditions.

Do you feel that you are patient, open-minded, good at communicating, vigilant with safety, and able to advocate for a disabled child? If the answer is yes, or you are willing to learn, then you may have the skills that these young people need.

You may have brought up your own child who has a disability, but you do not necessarily need to have experience of bringing up children of your own or caring for a child with a disability for that matter. We are also looking for people who can build on their current skills and experience. This may include working as a nurse or in a residential unit for children or adults with disabilities. Using these skills to provide a loving home environment for a disabled child or young person.

At UK Fostering we receive a variety of referrals for placements for children with disabilities, including:

• • Long term fostering placements
• • Short term fostering placements
• • Respite fostering placements
• • Short break schemes
• • Support to disabled young people through transition to adulthood

Disability is a broad term and the nature of disabilities that we comes across in the foster care sector is similarly as broad including profound physical disabilities, mental health difficulties, learning disabilities etc.

If you are interested in caring for children with disabilities, see what Terry and Ray have to say about their experience. (Foster Carers with UK Fostering since 2014)

“We started our Fostering career I guess like many people thinking ‘we were good parents’ therefore fostering would be easy ……….. wrong.

On our journey we had many good and some bad experiences. Most importantly felt we learnt from each and every experience.

One lesson we learnt was that the local authorities describe children with disabilities as having ‘complex needs’, however a foster carer soon appreciates that most children’s needs are ‘complex’, able bodied or not.

When we first considered the challenge of looking after a child with disabilities, we have to say we were nervous, although you soon appreciate first and foremost, they are children looking for the same love and care as any child.

Then with the support and training you undertake your confidence grows and you start to thoroughly enjoy what is emotionally a fantastic experience.
We would say to anyone considering fostering or currently fostering please do not be put off by the word ‘complex’ or ‘disabled’. Remember, as we quickly learnt, these are simply children looking for a loving home for however long that may be.

And finally, we, like many foster carers that are part of the UK Fostering family, are there to support each other.”

If you would like more information, then please do get in touch for an informal chat with our Recruitment Team.