Foster siblings
By fostering siblings, you could give brothers and sisters the wonderful gift of being able to stay together while in foster care.
What impact does being separated have on children?
Did you know that in the UK, 37% of children in foster care are separated from their siblings?
The sad truth is that separation can have a huge impact on a child’s happiness and sense of security. It can lead to feelings of anxiety, loss and isolation during what is already an incredibly difficult time.
Factors which can lead to siblings being separated include:
- If a sibling group is large, making it difficult to find homes which are big enough to accommodate them
- If one child needs specialised care due to additional needs
- If the siblings do not get along, or it’s unsafe for the children to live together
- A lack of foster families who are able to welcome multiple children, or who worry that taking on siblings may be too challenging
If you think you’d be a good fit to foster siblings, we’d love for you to get in touch.
How we’re helping siblings
We do all we can to help keep siblings together when it’s in every child’s best interests. We recognise the long-term impact which being separated can have on siblings, and the harmful effects it may have on their mental health. Separation can also lead to long-term effects on the treasured bonds siblings share.
Research shows that when siblings are kept together, there are huge benefits, including:
- Children can lean on one another as a source of comfort during this difficult time, and are able to maintain their strong sibling bond throughout
- Children’s minds can be put at ease by knowing where their siblings are, and that they are safe
- Children have someone by their side who understands their story, and who they can relate to
- The time they spend with their foster families is likely to be more stable and successful
Because of this, we need more foster parents like you who can provide love and care to siblings in need.
Start your fostering journey here
Download our brochure and discover everything you need to know about fostering with Orange Grove.
Could you foster siblings and give them a loving home?
For obvious reasons, fostering siblings can be doubly challenging – but it can be doubly rewarding, too!
We welcome you to consider the rewarding challenge of welcoming more than one child into your home. By doing so, you’ll be helping siblings to continue growing up together, and can enjoy the incredible experience of changing a family’s life for the better.
Here are some great indications that you might be the right person to foster siblings:
- You have enough space in your home to welcome more than one child
- You’re energetic, adaptable, compassionate and patient
- You’re passionate about improving the lives of young people and keeping families together
- You’re interested in developing your practice by taking part in our expert training programmes, which give you access to all the information you’ll need to build your fostering skills, and also allows you to specialise in topics of your choosing
Excellent training and support
When you join us, you can trust that you have the backing of a local, professional team with over 25 years of experience in changing the lives of young people.
Supporting our foster families is at the heart of everything we do, and we want to make sure that every member of your family— which may include you, a partner, your children or grandchildren, and any children in your care — gets the support they need to have a fantastic fostering experience.
You’ll also have access to therapists, education specialists, mentoring from experienced foster parents, our 24/7 helpline, and a fantastic training programme. You can rely on us to always be there when you need us, whether you need guidance, help or a friendly chat.
Contact us today to begin your journey towards changing children’s lives for the better!
Frequently asked questions
Can siblings in foster care share a bedroom?
In most circumstances, siblings will need a bedroom of their own. However, in some instances, the local authority may decide that siblings can share a bedroom. For example, if they’re under the age of 10 and are staying with you on a short-term basis.
Will I get a higher fostering allowance if I foster siblings?
When you foster multiple children, your fostering allowance will increase as you’ll receive a separate payment for each child. Check out our fostering allowances calculator to see how much you could receive while fostering more than one child.
Can I foster siblings if I have my own children living at home?
We welcome you to foster siblings alongside raising your own children. This can have fantastic outcomes for all of the children involved, though of course comes with its unique challenges.
When fostering with a family, you can rely on us to support every member of your family. As part of our great support package, we offer support dedicated to your children, including access to resources to prepare them for fostering and friendly support groups.
All the children in your family are also welcome to join us for our amazing activity days, where they can enjoy all kinds of exciting events with the whole family and make new friends with other kids who foster. We will work with you and do all we can to ensure that all of the children in your home are able to enjoy a rewarding fostering experience.
Other types of foster care
Short-term
Short-term fostering can range from a single night to a few years, depending on the child’s and family’s needs.
Long -term
Long-term care provides children with the stability of a single foster family right through to adulthood.
Teenagers
There are many teenagers in care who need unconditional love and support during this critical stage of their life.
Disability fostering
There are many children and young people with disabilities who require specialist foster care.
Speak to our team
Whether you’re ready to start your journey or just want to chat to an expert, we’re here to talk.
Enquiry
Please make sure you read our terms and conditions because you’re agreeing to them by submitting an enquiry. It’s also worth reading our privacy policy and cookies policy so you understand how we collect and use your personal data. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and Terms of Service apply.
Ready to start your fostering journey?
By Phone
One of our team is available to talk to you over the phone to answer any of your fostering queries.
By Email
You can get in touch by filling out our online enquiry form with any queries that you may have.
Live chat
Have a live chat online with one of our dedicated fostering professionals
Visit an office
We have local teams covering most of England. Find your local office today.