Parent and child fostering is another type of support foster carers can provide to a struggling parent and their child.
It involves welcoming a parent and child both into your home, and providing them with a safe, judgment-free space where they can learn new parenting skills and have a chance to bond with their child.
This type of fostering is super important to vulnerable parents who need a little bit of extra support in the Monmouthshire area.
what is this type of fostering?
Parent and child fostering is a chance for a struggling parent to experience and learn how to raise their child with the support of their foster carer.
Coming into this type of foster care may be of no fault of their own, but it’s already been flagged by Monmouthshire’s local authority that they need this support.
When working for a parent and child fostering service like ours, you’ll need to be able to support new parents with helping them learn new skills, such as how to change a nappy properly, what food to feed them, or even basic principles like personal and dental hygiene.
how long will a parent and child stay with you?
Generally, a young parent and child will stay with you for 12 weeks. But, depending on the circumstances, for example if a mum joins you before giving birth, this could be longer. It gives enough time for the foster carer to build a big enough picture and to see whether the parent can look after their child without the need for help.
who can foster a parent and child?
When we look at who can foster a parent and child together, we look at whether the carer has experience looking after a young child. This doesn’t mean to say they need to have their own children, but they need to be comfortable and supportive around them.
Practically, as a parent and child foster carer, you will need to have a spare bedroom that has enough room for parent and child, including space for storage and separate beds. But emotionally, you’ll need to provide a safe environment where they can have a judgement free space and are able to answer both the parent and child’s needs.
“Because it’s an assessment, they come in terrified that we’re just watching them all the time and feel like we’re setting them up to fail. And that’s not the case at all”, Lorraine, Parent and Child Foster Carer.
what to expect as a parent and child foster carer
No parent and child will be the same. You might be walking into a situation where the mother is a recovering drug addict, or someone who’s been through their own experience of abuse. The key is not to judge the situation and try to help as much as possible to get the outcome everyone is looking for – for the child to go home.
“There’s lots of nurturing involved (and support). It’s getting that balance between allowing the parent to parent, but ensuring the baby is always in a safe place.” Paul, Parent and Child Foster Carer.
bespoke training programs for carers
As a parent and child foster carer, you’ll receive a bespoke six-day training programme designed specifically to equip you with the knowledge, confidence, and practical skills to support both parents and their babies.
The training explores how trauma can affect brain development, the importance of secure attachment, and the principles of the Circle of Security to help build strong, nurturing relationships.
It also covers essential topics such as safe sleep and infant feeding, ensuring you feel well prepared to provide a safe, supportive environment while empowering parents to develop their parenting skills and give their child the best possible start in life.
ongoing parent and child foster care support
For the parents who are successful, they will still have access to further support, but it will be steered more towards how they can raise the child without the need for monitoring.
“It wasn’t in my life plan to get pregnant at 16. But social services got involved due to my circumstances. I’d heard a lot of misinformation about parent and child fostering. I was really nervous, but looking back a year ago, I feel really emotional about how far I’ve come.” Demi, new parent.
interested in fostering?
With hundreds of new parents in need of this type of support around the Monmouthshire area, foster carers are needed more than ever. Discover other successful fostering stories and see if you can also make a difference.
Are you ready to start helping new parents look after their children? Speak to a member of the Foster Wales team, and start your journey as a parent and child foster carer today.
