Why do children come into care?
There are many reasons why a child may come into the care of social services:
- Abuse
- Neglect
- Unaccompanied asylum-seeking child
- Orphaned / no family
Is EEmezzions Children Services a religious organisation?
Although we began as a religious organisation, we do not have any religious affiliations today. We work with children and young people from all religions, from all corners of the world, and support them to engage in their religion if they have one.
Are you a council?
No, we are not a local authority although we do work closely with them. We are a charity and an independent fostering agency.
Are you a registered charity?
Yes, we do. If you would like to provide specific gifts we would recommend purchasing high street vouchers, toiletries, stationery and non-perishable food items. These are the things that are most useful to our children and young people.
Do you take second-hand donations?
Unfortunately we do not accept second-hand donations. This is for safety and hygiene reasons, so any gift donations should be new and in sealed packaging.
What is the difference between fostering and adoption?
Adoption is when you become the legal parent of a child who cannot live with their family. Fostering is looking after someone else’s child, whether for a short or longer period of time.
Can I foster if my children were in care?
Unfortunately you cannot become a foster carer if your own children were taken into care.
I have a long-term health condition. Can I foster?
Having a medical condition does not always rule you out of fostering. All carers undergo a medical with their GP as part of the application process, who then makes a recommendation on their ability to foster. All recommendations are reviewed by an independent advisor and are considered on an individual basis.
What if someone in my household smokes?
Research shows that health is adversely affected by passive smoking and that children are far more likely to smoke if people they regard as role models smoke. We therefore discourage foster carers from smoking in front of children and expect you to have clear arrangements in your home to ensure areas where children spend time are smoke free.
We would not place children aged below five or those with disabilities in a household where someone smokes.
Do I get a say in the age range and / or gender of the children I will look after?
Emezzions Children Services works with children of all ages, genders, ethnicities and religions. We use a matching system to choose the most appropriate carer and work with you to make sure you feel able to care for the young person. If there are any areas you feel uncertain about our team will provide additional support or training so that you are confident in your skills and can provide the right care.
We particularly need foster parents to care for teenagers and sibling groups of younger children.
Can I foster if I have pets?
Yes, you can. Pets are taken into consideration in your household assessment and further references may be sought from your vet. After an assessment has taken place some pets may be deemed unsuitable for fostering, whereas others can play a therapeutic role in your home.