Parent and child fostering is a type of fostering placement which involves taking care of a parent (usually a young mother) and her baby in a foster care environment. With parent and child fostering, it?s the role of the foster parent to help the parent overcome their disadvantages and feel confident in their abilities as parents. Many parents in foster care may not have received substantial positive parenting themselves however, during their placement, they may feel that someone cares about them and respond to a positive role model. They may have to overcome gaps in their own knowledge and experience and many may not yet know what normal family life looks like and entails. Others might be struggling with substance misuse, learning difficulties, disabilities, domestic abuse or trauma, which can make it difficult for them to care for their children.
There can be a lot riding on a parent and child placement, this may bring additional pressures. The outcome may help determine whether a child remains with their parents or not. We all know how babies need our attention ? and this situation is very similar, the difference being you will also be mentoring and sometimes an older child will be involved rather than a baby. Some of the parents that need help will be fast learners; others might need high levels of support. In conjunction with the hands-on mentoring, you?ll also be required to write detailed reports and daily logs as you go along, which will be used by the local authority. There are a whole host of reasons but the desired outcome for a parent and child is that, where possible, children are best placed within their own families. This is the underlying principle of the Children Act 1989. The mother or father can be any age and, if they are under 18, they may be a looked after child themselves. It can be very rewarding, despite the complex situation.
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