At Supported Fostering Services we are actively recruiting new and existing foster carers who are able to foster a baby with their older siblings or with their parent. We don’t usually approve people just to look after one baby, there is just not enough demand.
People who want to foster babies have the same training as any other foster parents and need to go through the same process, see our page on becoming a foster parent.
When our social work team work with you on your assessment, we’ll talk about the age range of the children you want to look after. Most of the time babies come with older siblings or a parent, usually their mother.
What experience do you need to look after babies?
Foster parents who foster babies have typically had their own children, or have experience working with babies, but this is not always the case. People who have limited experience will be offered additional training and support.
For what reasons do babies typically need foster parents?
Babies might need a foster parent on their own, with their siblings or with a parent, often with just their mother.
Sometimes there are medical or health reasons why a mother might not be able to look after their baby. Or perhaps the parents have not been able to look after older siblings, and so the new baby also goes into care.
There is always a high level of contact if a baby is placed away from its parents. This is to aid the assessment process as well as building a bond between parent and child. The foster parent is expected to take the baby to and from wherever the contact takes place.
Parent and Baby Placements
Some new parents might need extra help to learn how best to care for a baby. It’s not always easy, even for experienced parents. In these cases the foster parent is there to support and guide the new parents, often just the mother.
This is why these placements are Mothers who are often young adults or older teens, and they may have other young children. They are often referred to as Mother and Baby placements.
Mother and Baby Fostering
Foster parents are sometimes asked to help the social worker assessing the parent to work out where they need extra help and support. Sometimes the parent is not going to be able to meet the needs of the baby. There may be family court proceedings to make this decision.
The court may decide that social services need to find an adoptive parent in some cases. We hope it’s possible to support the parents to be able to look after their baby themselves.
What are the requirements to foster babies?
Babies under two years of age may share the foster carers bedroom, and be in their own crib or cot. Any young children older than two need their own bedroom unless they are sharing with their own siblings.
Is there any training required?
Yes, we offer specific training for foster parents who are going to offer a home to a parent and child or children.
What is the process for fostering babies?
The steps to foster babies is the same as the process to become a foster parent.
- Contact us for more information
- We’ll arrange to visit you at home to run through things in more detail
- We provide training for all new foster parents
- If you are already a foster parent there are fast-track options to be approved
- We carry out an assessment called a Form F. This is a big report about you and your household. It’s the main document that’s used to match your particular skills and abilities with the different needs of children in care
- Your report goes to an independent fostering panel who make a recommendation to the organisation about your approval, age ranges and number of children. You attend this meeting.
- We make a final decision.
Answers to more questions about fostering babies and young children may be found on our Fostering Questions and Answers page.
Ready to take the next steps to foster a baby?
To apply to foster babies or for more information about Parent and Child Placements, contact us below or give us a call on 029 2046 0004 to have an informal chat, we can answer any questions you may have about fostering babies. We can also arrange to visit you at home if you wish.