fostering types
Fostering older children
Did you know that 66% of the children we care for are aged 11 and over, and 35% are aged 16-17? We have a significant number of children in our care who require a foster family who can welcome them into their home and guide them through this important and uncertain time in their lives. Helping them to develop into happy, confident and independent young adults.
Why foster a child over the age of 11?
Remember being a teenager? It’s a time of huge changes, learning new skills, forming opinions, making life decisions, navigating relationships plus a few ups and downs along the way. It’s a daunting, but incredible time, taking those next steps towards independence.
Now imagine life as a teenager if you’ve experienced a difficult childhood, with disrupted living arrangements, neglect or family instability. Just like younger children, teenagers need the safety and stability of a loving family, but for our teenagers, who are at a critical stage of their physical, neurological and social development, stability is vital to their future. With our help you could make a real difference in a young person’s life, helping build their self-esteem and supporting them to make sense of their feelings as they develop into young adults.
Without a secure home base, the teenagers we care for face a higher risk of homelessness, exploitation from criminal gangs, and missed education. By helping to keep them close to their current school, friends and hobbies, and providing a reliable listening-ear, you would be offering them the safety net that every young person needs.
As a foster carer with West Sussex County Council, and with our ongoing training and support, you may discover skills you didn’t know you had!
We know that fostering can come with its challenges but it is also incredibly rewarding and can develop into a fulfilling career that offers so much more than the typical 9-5. And you’ll have fun seeing life through a young person’s eyes as they explore the world with energy and curiosity (and sometimes a bit of sass!).
who can foster older children
We want to hear from anyone interested in fostering teenagers
- You can be single or in a same sex relationship
- There’s no age limit to being a foster carer
- You don’t have to have your own children
- You can be renting your home or be a home owner
- You do need a spare room
- You can have your own children living at home
- You can have pets
- You may have experience parenting your own children or someone else's or as part of your job
Foster Carer's tell us there's no greater joy
90%
of Foster Carers feel they have the
training they need to care for the child/
ren placed with them.
We are very spoilt working for West
Sussex, there is a wealth of training
to help us fulfil our role as a Foster
Carer.
Michelle, one of our Foster Carers
Our Insightful Videos
Discover the best of you
Watch our powerful video showing the positive impact fostering a young person can have on their life, and yours.
Meet Serena
She has fostered with West Sussex County Council for six years and has experience of caring for teenagers.
Hear from Michelle
West Sussex foster carer Michelle, has been fostering teenagers for over 30 years. Watch the video below to hear her heart-warming story.
support fostering children
What support will I receive to help me foster an older child?
As a foster carer with West Sussex County Council you will become part of a large network of foster carers and receive a wide range of benefits which include:
- Being part of a fostering community, with regular coffee mornings, social activities and a peer support programme.
- Support from highly skilled and experienced Supervising Social Workers, with regular one-to-one supervision.
- A comprehensive training package – including access to Secure Base training and Therapeutic Parenting with PACE groups.
- Out-of-hours support so you are never left alone to cope with challenging situations
- Membership of our United Foster Carers’ Association and The Fostering NetworkProviding help and days out for West Sussex foster carers and their families as well as dedicated support.
- A competitive financial package of up to £33,415 (per child-per year)Helping to cover day-to-day living costs and recognising the vital role you will be playing in a young person’s life. Additional payments will be made to help with other costs like travel related to the role and to help you mark important events for the children you care for like birthdays and religious festivals.
