Fostering

Foster carers look after a child whose birth family is unable to care for them at that time. Some foster for just one night or a weekend, while others care for the same children for years, sometimes becoming their permanent family.

Babies, children, and teenagers may need foster care for reasons such as:

• A parent's physical or mental ill health
• Parental substance misuse
• Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse or neglect
• Parents needing a break from caring for their child

What Makes a Good Foster Carer?

Fostering is a hugely rewarding role, whether that's offering respite for a weekend, a few weeks, or providing long-term care for children who can't return home.

We ask that foster carers bring compassion, understanding, and plenty of love, along with a spare room. You can be married or single, young or old, gay or straight; what matters most is your ability to connect with and support the child or young person in your care.

There's no single type of person who makes a good foster carer. Our foster carers come from all walks of life, are of all ages, and have a wide range of backgrounds. Some are single, others are married or in long-term relationships. Some have children of their own at home, many don't.

All prospective foster carers are thoroughly checked, though minor offences, including things that happened in your teens, may not affect your application.

We do ask that foster carers:

• Enjoy spending time with children
• Have patience and plenty of energy
• Be able to understand and empathise with a child who has had a difficult start in life
• Not expect anything in return from the child
• Be able to work with professionals, and with the child's parents and family
• Treat everyone with respect, whatever their lifestyle, actions, or circumstances
• Be willing to learn new skills and take part in training
• Have a spare bedroom

Most of all, we're looking for people who will do their best to give a vulnerable baby, child, or teenager a safe and loving home, and who will stick by them through the hard times.

What Support is there?

We'll Support You to Support Them.

Fostering is a unique opportunity to care for a vulnerable child and make a real difference to their life. It can be immensely rewarding, though it can also be physically and emotionally demanding. We'll be with you every step of the way.

When you become a foster carer, you'll be allocated your own social worker, who will draw up a personal support plan with you and provide dedicated support throughout.

Every foster carer receives an allowance for each child in their care, based on the child's age, and all additional expenses are covered so you're never out of pocket.

Orkney has its own fostering and adoption support group, which meets regularly and gives foster carers the chance to connect with, support, and get advice from others who understand the challenges and emotions involved.

Our small, friendly fostering and adoption team pride themselves on being approachable and are always available whenever you need practical or emotional support.

Private Fostering

Are you in any of these situations?

• Looking after a child while their parents work away from home?
• Helping out a family in crisis by caring for their children?
• Have a teenager staying with you because things aren't working out at home?

If so, this may count as private fostering.

What Is Private Fostering?

Private fostering is when a parent arranges for their child to be looked after by someone else for 28 days or more. It applies to children under 16, or under 18 if they have additional needs. The arrangement counts as private fostering when the person caring for the child is not a close relative, such as a sibling, step-parent, grandparent, aunt, or uncle.

What Are the Rules?

Every local authority in Scotland has a duty to protect the welfare of privately fostered children under the Foster Children (Scotland) Act 1984. It is an offence not to notify Orkney Islands Council of a private fostering arrangement.

• You must inform Orkney Islands Council's Children's Services when you start, or plan to start, a private fostering arrangement
• Notify us at least two weeks before the placement begins, or within seven days if it started due to a family emergency
• Provide details of where the child will be living, and with whom
• A member of staff will visit the carers to offer help and advice, and carry out basic checks to make sure the arrangement is safe for the child
• A worker will visit the child and carers regularly, and stay in contact with the child's parents. 

Contact us

If you'd like to find out more about becoming a foster carer, contact the Fostering and Adoption Team by email or call us for a chat. 

We'd love to hear from you.