Make a Positive Contribution

We respect the fact that all young people have the right to have views and we try very hard to assist them to express their views about everything.

• All children (foster children and birth children) are invited to contribute to their carers Annual Review.
• Children are given a Guidebook that explains how they can get in contact with Fostering Solutions if they have a problem or complaint. They are encouraged to have their say.

Real life examples

Samantha, has been nominated again to be student representative at college for the second year in a row.

Jenny, 12, has been in placement with Jo and Kevin for almost 2 years and it is planned that she will stay with them until leaving care. Jenny is considered to be a family member now, academically bright and has achieved extremely well since being with Jo and Kevin. They have encouraged her to put her money in a savings account. Jenny is very independent, highly articulate and is able to explain what she does and doesn’t want in terms of her future. She has a wide group of friends at school and enjoys them coming for tea and having sleep-overs. Jenny’s fantastic progress has meant that she is now able to venture out with her friends at night. She checks in with Jo on her mobile phone. Jenny’s example really shows the positive impact our carers are able to have on the lives of children placed with them.

Sadiq, 16, arrived on the back of a lorry as an unaccompanied asylum seeker. He was unable to speak English and was very traumatised from the physical torture he had suffered in prison before leaving Sudan. He was immediately placed with two Fostering Solutions carers, Dave and Lisa, and 18 months later he is still with them. Dave and Lisa have taught Sadiq how to speak English, have enrolled him at the local college and identified a Muslim Youth Group which he attends twice weekly. They have also attended the Mosque with Sadiq and have studied the Koran in order to gain a better understanding of his beliefs. Dave and Lisa have visited various Sudanese food stores so that Sadiq can prepare his own traditional Sudanese dishes if he wishes to. Sadiq is now able to travel unaccompanied to college each day and is currently looking forward to continuing his studies at university.