Fostering a child or young person is a big responsibility and can involve providing physical and emotional support for children and young people, each with their own individual characters and some with complex needs.

To equip you to play your role we provide regular training and development opportunities. And to help you progress we hold annual reviews to discuss your fostering experience and development and future requirements.

As part of the professional approach Fife Council encourages, all foster carers are given membership of the Fostering Network, a nationwide organisation that offers guidance and advice on fostering related issues.

Once you’re approved as a foster carer your dedicated supervising social worker will give you advice and guidance and together you will create your personal training and development programme.

We run a buddy system where new foster carers are ‘buddied’ with our experienced carers in their local area to give support and guidance. In addition, we hold a monthly development and support group for newly approved foster carers.

Your supervising social worker will keep in regular contact with you during the child or young person’s placement. The frequency of the contact will vary depending on circumstances and is likely to be more at the beginning of the placement or during periods of difficulty when you will have access to 24-hour support from skilled social workers.

We encourage everyone to get involved in the local fostering community and the many formal and informal support groups where many people find the peer support from other carers invaluable.