Fostering

Baby Sitting

Foster carers cannot leave a baby-sitter in charge of a foster child without prior agreement with the child’s social worker. Fostering Services/Agencies recognise that foster carers need a break and occasionally need the support of relatives, a nominated carer or a baby-sitter, this should be discussed with the child’s social worker and the fostering social worker.

Bed Wetting 
Any child who has suffered a traumatic experience may begin to wet the bed. A child placed with foster carers will almost certainly feel distressed and it is important to be patient and allow the child time to settle and feel safe and secure. Displaying annoyance or attempting to punish a child will only add to their distress and may make the problem worse.
Rewarding a child for success will work better than punishment for failure. If the problem is persistent, foster carer’s should discuss it with the child’s social worker or the carer’s Family Placement social worker. Persistent bed wetting could be an indication of specific problems including sexual abuse.

 
Belongings
Foster children will probably bring clothing, toys or other possessions with
them when they are placed. These belongings may appear not to be very valuable, however they may be precious to a child and therefore should be treated with respect. Remember the child will have been separated from their family and familiar surroundings and what may seem an unimportant item, may be a child’s most treasured possession.
 
Birth Certificate
If a birth has been registered then a birth certificate will be available which records the details of the child’s birth. If a copy of a child's birth certificate is required, Foster carers can contact the child's social worker or seek advice from the Family Placement worker.

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