Solo foster care Home Types of fostering Solo foster care The solo placement fostering scheme works to prevent young people from being moved out of the area to live in a residential setting. It also helps young people to return to live in a family environment who are currently living in residential care which is often miles away from their family and friends. Due to their background, the needs of these young people may be higher than those of their peers. They may have had breakdowns in their foster care provision, been traumatised by previous experiences of abuse and neglect and have associated emotional, behavioural and attachment difficulties. The children or young people you will care for will have very specific or complex needs which may initially need a higher level of attention and supervision. They are amongst the most vulnerable and demanding and we are not able to place them alongside other children. This scheme is different from mainstream fostering because each foster carer will be approved for only one child or young person. There will be a careful matching process which will begin towards the end of the assessment process to ensure that everything is planned in place ready for a managed introductory period. There will be an individual support package involving health and education to help you to meet the needs of the young person who may have heightened support needs and be out of education. Each child or young person is initially with you for 12 months, after which it is reviewed to see whether the young person still requires the level of support a solo placement provides. What will I need to do? As a Solo foster carer, you will need to: Show you have the commitment, patience and ability to care for a child or young person. Encourage and support them to access education and extra-curricular opportunities. Recognise that behaviour is a form of communication and adapt the way you parent accordingly. Offer a safe and caring environment for a child and help them maintain a relationship with their family and support networks. Work with a core group of professionals who will support you to care for the child effectively. Commit to developing your own knowledge and attend training. Have significant experience of working directly with or caring for challenging young people who present a range of behaviours. Have no children under 18 living at home. Be available full-time for the child or young person in your care. Be open-minded and have the commitment to make a difference. What support will I receive? As a foster carer, you will receive: A weekly fee of £677.32 plus fostering allowances. The support of a dedicated fostering social worker and family support worker. The support of a team of professionals who are working with the young person in your care and who can offer you one to one advice and support. Access to a specialist training programme, some of which will start during your assessment period. An opportunity to undertake a QCF Diploma for the Children’s Workforce. Opportunities for peer support and networking. Support from our in-house psychologist. Access to 24-hour support via the foster care support line and emergency duty team. Being a foster carer Gareth, a foster carer with Warwickshire County Council talks about his experiences.