Children and Young People
with Independent Foster Care Services
- The Fostering Network states Foster Carers need better financial recognition
- Since 1997 the total number of children in Wales looked after by foster carers and in residential care increased by 50%.
- There is a shortage of nearly 750 Foster Carers in Wales alone. In March 2009, there were 4705 looked after children and young people in Wales and 77% of these lived with Foster Carers.
Find a section
- Introduction to Foster Care
- Questions & Answers
- Where will I get clothes, food and pocket money?
- Can I smoke?
- Can I have contact with my family?
- Can I have my own bedroom if I want?
- What do I do if I'm not being looked after properly?
- What do I do if I've been hurt by somebody?
- What if I've been praised or achieved some merit?
- What do I do if I have run away from Foster Care?
- What do I do if I have been arrested?
- What do I do if I want to sleep over with a friend?
- What do I do if I am unsure about anything?
- Short statement of purpose
- Useful contacts
- Games links
- Complaints
- E-mail links
- Advice on Internet Security
Can't view a pdf?
You can download an Acrobat Reader for free. Get Adobe Acrobat Reader.
IFCS quick finder
Find important pages on the Independent Foster Care Services website here!
How to find us
IFCS are based in Cardiff, South Wales, if you need directions just go to our directions page.
Questions & Answers
Foster carers are families who look after young people, like yourself, if they cannot be looked after by their own families. Foster carers, like the ones looking after you now, have had to be tested and investigated thoroughly, before a panel of professionals will approve them as suitable to look after young people.
Foster carers also have to have ongoing training and supervision, and their approval is reviewed every year. Your foster carers should care for you very well. While you are looked after by your foster carers you will have a chance to comment on how you think their care is.
Where will I get clothes, food and pocket money?
Your foster carer will provide all necessary food and
clothes, and you will receive pocket money. You may not get all the clothes
you want, but you will definitely get all the clothes you need.
Money will also be provided for toys, hobbies, leisure or sports activities. Do not be afraid to ask. We recognise this is a very hard time for you and as well as providing good care we want to make sure you enjoy yourself as much as possible.
Can I smoke?
No. Smoking gives you bad breath, poor skin and is extremely bad for your health. We would not be caring for you properly if we allowed you to smoke.
This is not a decision of your foster carer, but is the decision of Independent Foster Care Services (IFCS) for whom they work. It is also against the law for you to smoke if you are under 16.
If you are 16 years of age you can legally smoke if you wish. However, you are wholly forbidden from smoking in the Foster Carers home, which is a decision of IFCS. We would also strongly discourage you from smoking at all, as it is extremely bad for your health and will kill you in the long term.
If you wish to give up smoking we will give you all the help you need.
Can I have contact with my family?
You must ask your Social Worker about contact with your family. You can say that we will help with transport and any supervision that may be needed.
Ask your Social Worker to phone us on 02920 837320 to make arrangements, or email us at Independent Foster Care Services.
Can I have my own bedroom if I want?
Yes. Your foster carer knows you must have your own bedroom if you wish so ask them about it.
You can also ask the Social Worker from Independent Foster Care Services (IFCS) who visits you every week, or your own Social Worker.
We will also ask you before any other child or young person arrives in the foster home having to share your bedroom.
If you don't want to share your bedroom just say, and you won't have to.
What do I do if I'm not being looked after properly?
You must complain immediately.
To complain you can use one of the 15 IFCS Complaints Forms in your welcome pack, and post it in one of the 15 stamped and addressed envelopes provided, to the appropriate address. Alternatively, you can email the appropriate person using the links below or use the online complaints procedure.
Show me the IFCS complaints procedure
You can also speak directly to your foster carer, IFCS Social Worker, or Local Authority Social Worker. You can also phone, textphone or email any of the organisations on the Main Contact Card in your pack or online.
Show me the IFCS main contact card
E-mail Independent Foster Care Services
E-mail the Care and Social Services Inspectorate for Wales
E-mail the Children's Commissioner for Wales
E-mail the NSPCC
The IFCS Complaints Procedure is written on a separate card in your pack.
The important thing is for your views and concerns to be heard and addressed quickly.
It is good for us to hear your complaints, concerns, views and feelings, as they will help us do our job for you and other young people better.
What do I do if I've been hurt by somebody?
You must tell someone else immediately.
Good people to tell are your foster carer, the Police, your Social Worker, the IFCS Social Worker, a Teacher or any organisation on your Main Contact Card in your welcome pack. Alternatively, you can use the main contact card online.
Show me the IFCS main contact card
You can tell people directly, by phone, text phone, email, or by post using the stamped and addressed envelopes in your pack.
No one is allowed to hurt you, and if someone has you must say. We know this may be very hard and distressing for you. We will listen with great care and sensitivity. Above all we will make sure that the hurting stops and you are safe.
If someone has hurt you tell us now. Write your concerns on the plain paper in your pack, and post it in the envelope addressed to Independent Foster Care Services (IFCS). Or use the online complaints procedure.
Show me the IFCS complaints procedure
We will immediately inform your Social Worker. If you do not wish to tell us, then tell the NSPCC, using the information on your Main Contact Card. Alternatively, you can use the main contact card online. You will be listen to, believed, and your concerns will be acted on.
Show me the IFCS main contact card
What do I do if I have been praised, achieved some merit or got a place in a team?
Tell someone!
Tell your foster carer, your parents or other family members and your Social Worker. Anyone who achieves some praise for making something, doing well in school, behaving well or getting a place in a club or a team deserves to be recognised and so do you - so tell someone what you have achieved.
What do I do if I have run away from Foster Care?
Contact us at Independent Foster Care Services (IFCS) immediately using the information on your Personal Contact Card, which is included in your welcome pack. Alternatively, you can use the main contact card online.
Show me the IFCS main contact card
It is absolutely vital for us to make sure you are safe and well, as running
away can put you in great danger. Someone from Independent Foster Care
Services (IFCS) will arrange for you to be collected as soon as possible.
If you are far away you may have to go to a Police Station, or contact
the Police to make sure you are absolutely safe. If you have run away you
must contact us as soon as possible so we can ensure you are completely
safe and return you to a safe and appropriate place.
What do I do if I have been arrested?
If you have been arrested and taken to a Police Station you must truthfully give your name and address and a contact number for the Police Officers. Use your foster carers' telephone number or the number on the Personal Contact Card, which is included in your welcome pack. Alternatively, you can use the main contact card online.
Show me the IFCS main contact card
Someone from Independent Foster Care Services (IFCS) will visit you at the Police Station as soon as we know where you are. It is always a good idea to get a solicitor if you have been arrested. The Police Officers will arrange this for you if you ask. Be polite, tell the truth and make sure the Police Officers contact us, or your Foster Carers, immediately.
What do I do if I want to sleep over with a friend?
We cannot give permission for you going to a friend for a sleep over without the permission of your Social Worker.
However, if you tell us who the friend is - their name and address - we will contact your Social Worker and ask on your behalf.
What do I do if I am unsure about anything?
Just ask. Ask, your Foster Carer, ask your Social Worker or ask the Independent Foster Care Services Social Worker who visits you every week.
Don't be afraid to ask as we need and want to know about how you feel and what your questions are. You will help us do our jobs better by asking, and telling us your views, and complaining.
We want to hear from you!
Web design by