Do you have what it takes to provide permanent care? Your first step to becoming a permanent carer is to contact a permanent care service nearest you.
Permanent care parents come from a variety of backgrounds. You can apply whether you're single, married or unmarried, with or without children of your own. Whether you have the potential to meet the needs of children needing a permanent care family is much more important than your personal circumstances. You do not have to be 'special' to do this.
In most cases the child would be placed as the youngest member in your family. Generally there'll be two years between the placed child and the next oldest. Couples who have undertaken fertility treatment need to have completed it at least six months before starting the application process.
Helpful attributes for a permanent parent include good health, a sense of humour, patience, the ability to see things through and supportive family and friends. It is also important to have the ability to ask for help when you need it and to work with professionals.
How do you apply?
Here's an overview of the permanent care process.
Issues to consider
Being a Permanent care parent can be very rewarding. You can give children a feeling of belonging, acceptance, self-worth and family stability. It is not always an easy task. Showing love and acceptance to a child who may not seem to want it, or who is unable to respond in a certain way is difficult. Families need to be satisfied with small achievements and appreciate that progress can be slow. Families need to be able to accept that many of the children come from backgrounds of abuse or neglect. As time places, you can watch and help children gain confidence, grow in maturity, lose fears they may have, discover their talents and develop trust.
Further information
If you are interested in proceeding further, the Permanent care team in your area would be pleased to hear from you.