Wednesday, 3 September

Online Fostering Information Session

By Brighton & Hove City Council Fostering Service

A chance to find out how you can make a difference to the most vulnerable children and young people in Brighton & Hove.

Date and time

Location

Online

Agenda

Our sessions are very informal but we will cover topics such as;

•The reasons why children and young people need foster care •The different types of fostering and how to decide which type is right for you •Who can foster and the qualities that make a good foster c...

Good to know

Highlights

1 hour
Online

About this event

Thank you for taking the first step and for wanting to learn more about becoming a foster carer.

We welcome anyone from within a 25 mile radius of Brighton & Hove to register for this event. You can register with no prior contact but we would recommend getting in touch first. It would be great to connect with you and to find out a little bit about you, so that we can tailor the content accordingly and invite foster carers in similar circumstances to share their experience.

The event will include an introduction to fostering from a member of our team and an opportunity to ask current foster carers about their day-to-day experience of fostering for Brighton & Hove City Council. A care-experienced young person will also talk about the difference foster care has made to their life.

We will discuss and dispel the many myths that surround fostering, and all too often lead to people disqualifying themselves unnecessarily.

Discover not only whether fostering is right for you, but also how it can be a lifechanging experience for you, your family and the young people who need you.

This event will typically last 1 hour but we will always allow additional time for questions and discussion.

Frequently asked questions

Will I need to turn my camera on?

No, we will not ask you to turn your camera on, you are welcome to listen anonymously if it makes you feel more comfortable.

Will I need to speak or introduce myself?

No, only if you feel comfortable doing so.

Will the session be recorded?

No, to respect the privacy of attendees, we will not record the session.

Will I need to make notes?

Not unless you want to. You will not be tested on the information shared, and we will run through everything you need to know as many times as you need us to.

Can my children join the session with me?

Yes of course but please let us know so that we can ensure the content is appropriate for them. We will cover topics such as neglect and the reasons why children may come into care.

I'd rather find out more in person, is this possible?

Yes, our team are happy to meet with you in person and we are often out and about in different communities for drop in sessions.

If I attend, will I be obligated to continue?

No, you may take as much time as you need to reflect on what you learn in the session and to consider whether fostering is right for you.

Can I speak with someone before the event?

We would love to hear from you before the event. It would be great to connect with you and to find out a little bit about you, so that we can tailor the content accordingly and invite foster carers in similar circumstances to share their experience.

How can I contact you?

To contact us prior to the event or to ask us anything about the event that isn't covered in this section, please e-mail fosteringrecruitment@brighton-hove.gov.uk or phone 01273 295444.

Organised by

Brighton & Hove City Council Fostering Service

Fostering is looking after someone else’s child or children when they can’t live with their own family. This can be for a day or two, a few months, or many years. Sometimes a child will return home to live with their family, they may be adopted, or be fostered until they reach adulthood.

Fostered children may have suffered from neglect and/or abuse and need a stable loving home where they can grow and thrive. Every child’s story is different, but they will all have had a difficult start in life and have faced loss and separation from their birth family.

Children and young people who need foster care range from newborn up to the age of18. Many are part of a sibling group, and all will come from a variety of geographical areas, and a wide range of different cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds.

Like the children they look after, foster carers come from all sorts of different backgrounds, cultures, religions, and age groups too. What our carers have in common is a genuine desire to support children and young people through a difficult time in their lives and to give them the best future possible.