Unfortunately not every child is born into, and subsequently raised in a happy home, or even the best of circumstances. If this is the case, then usually the local authorities will step in to try and help both the child and its parent(s) or guardian.
This process isn’t usually started lightly, often there will be warning signs from an early stage of any potential issues or problems. Also the authorities will receive information from concerned relatives, friends or neighbours. It’s also not uncommon for schools to get in contact with the local authorities should they be concerned about the wellbeing of one of their pupils.
The typical resolution to such issues is to place the child into foster care, usually as a temporary (but often as a longer term) measure to allow the child to settle and continue with their education with minimal disruptions.
Within the process, the role of the Fostering Agency is to assess the child’s needs and match them to the best suitable match from their fostering families. This is often based on the proximity and the type of, or the amount of children also staying with the family.
Fostering has had a positive impact on many peoples lives, both for the children and the carer. If you are looking for a career change, this could be a good move for you.