Importance of keeping siblings together

Going into foster care can be hard to adjust to. But imagine having to go it alone without your brothers and sisters around you.  Young people coming in to care have already experienced so much disruption their lives. Often the connection they share with a sibling is the only source of continuity in their lives and can offer them a sense of support and safety.

When children are separated from their siblings, not only can this cause them to experience further loss, it can also leave them feeling even more isolated and anxious.

We believe that sibling relationships are some of the most important and longest lasting of our lives. That’s why, when it comes to fostering, we do everything we can to keep brothers and sisters together. Sticking together means that siblings can share the fostering experience and offer each other extra comfort at this difficult time. We find that children are much more likely to settle and begin progressing well if they are kept with their brothers and sisters, especially if they have a close emotional bond. The fact that they can share the experience and support each other helps to keep these important relationships alive.

Caring for more than one child can sometimes be a challenge. But when you foster with us, you’re never alone.

That’s because we offer some of the best foster carer training and support. From a dedicated Social Worker to our 24/7 out of hours support line, we’re always on hand to offer you the personal, one-to-one support you need.

However the impact that you can have on the lives of siblings by fostering them together can be so rewarding. There are many touching moments and experiences that you can gain from fostering siblings that you wouldn’t have through fostering a single child.

There are many different types of fostering placements, from short-term to long-term, sibling group to respite. You can find out more about the different types of fostering placements FCA Scotland offers. It’s always worth looking in to and speaking to our recruitment team about, to see whether it’s something you could consider.

If you are interesting in finding out more about fostering a sibling group or just looking for more information on fostering you can fill out our online enquiry form. Or contact one of our carer recruitment advisors on 0141 646 4805.