Introduction

Fostering is when a child needs to live with a family until they can return to their own family, live independently or be adopted.

Becoming a foster carer gives a chance to make a real difference to a child’s life and help them to develop and achieve their potential. Foster carers provide a safe and stable life at difficult times in a child’s life. They often give children their first experience of positive family life.

Lots of children are fostered for only a few weeks or months, but sometimes children may need to stay in foster care long term. There are lots of different types of fostering available and new foster carers or those thinking of fostering can choose what’s right for them and their family.

Training is provided and the fostering service gives support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Did you know?

• you can’t be too old but you have to be 21
•  you can be single or in a relationship
• there are different ways you can foster
• you can be a foster carer if you have a disability
• pets are welcome
• you don’t have to own your own home
• how much you earn does not matter
• you can foster if you have children already
• you can foster if you’re lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender

Fostering Service

The Fostering Service undertakes all duties relating to the short-term and long-term placement of children with foster families. This includes

• finding new foster carers
• carrying out assessments
• giving advice to other professionals and members of the public
• contributing to care planning
• carrying out training and supervision of foster carers

The Fostering Service also carries out assessments for Connected Persons. These are foster carers who choose to look after a child or children who are in the care of the Minister and who they already know. They are often family members or friends.

Families able to take more than one child at the time

There is a great need for families who can offer short-term or long-term care for two or three children at a time, so that brothers and sisters can stay together and do not have to be separated. The Fostering Service also needs families who will care for teenage children whose relationship with their own parents has often broken down.

Support and training

Once approved, foster carers are visited regularly by a Supervising Social Worker who will support, give advice, and provide on-going training. The Fostering Service holds regular recruitment campaigns to find foster carers but are always pleased to hear from anyone who is interested in fostering.

Portuguese foster families

The Fostering Service would very much like to find some Portuguese families who would be prepared to foster. When Portuguese children are placed in care, it is important that they remain in contact with their language and culture.

Jersey Fostering Allowances

All foster carers receive an allowance depending on the age of the child they look after. This allowance provides for day to day expenses, e.g. food, clothing, pocket money and nappies. The service also pays a holiday, birthday and Christmas allowance. You do not pay tax on these allowances.

The service also pays a fee depending on the skills and experience of the foster carers. This is like a wage so will need to be declared for tax purposes.

Liberty House
19-23 La Motte Street
St Helier
Jersey
JE2 4SY

If you’re thinking about fostering a child, give the fostering service a call or make contact by email or Facebook.

Tel:+44 1534 443970
Email:fosteringandadoption@health.gov.je