Fostering Babies and Pre-School Children
Every day in Liverpool, babies and young children need safe, loving foster homes.
Our very young children arrive in care at a time of uncertainty and need calm, consistent care to help them feel safe and begin to build trust and attachments.
Some stay for a short time, others for longer.
For Angela, fostering young children became more than a career change. "The children become part of your family for however long they're with you."
For Laura, the impact has lasted long after children moved on. "One little boy who hasn't lived with me for two years still talks about us every day. That stays with you."
Why are foster carers needed?
In Liverpool right now there are over 470 children under 10 are in care.
We need more local foster carers so children can stay close to their families, schools and communities whenever possible. Early experiences matter. A nurturing foster home can help children build trust, feel secure and get the best possible start in life.
Could you foster a baby or young child?
Fostering babies and young children is rewarding, but it does require commitment. You don't need a spare room to care for babies and toddlers up to the age of 3, but you will need lots of time.
As a foster carer you'll:
- Provide day-to-day care and routines
- Attend meetings and training
- Work with social workers and other professionals
- Support family contact where appropriate
- Keep simple daily records about a child's development
- Help children through important transitions
As Laura says: "You need to be open-minded and patient."
And while no two days are the same, you'll never be doing it alone. You'll have support from social workers, experienced foster carers and our fostering team throughout your journey.
Support and Training
- A wide range of pre and post approval training to help you care for a range of children with different needs
- An age-related child’s allowance and a professional fee payment on a pro-rata basis, depending on the duration of the child's stay.
- An emergency fostering fee of £100 per child, per night.
- A setup fee of up to £500
- 100% Council tax exemption
- Lifestyles Leisure Passes for the whole household
- Baby and toddler support groups
- Membership to Liverpool Foster Care Association
- Foster Talk Membership
Yvette reassures anyone thinking of fostering -"You won't know everything when you start. None of us do. But if you're prepared to learn, the difference you can make to a child's life is incredible."
