To achieve their best, these children will need guidance and support from reliable, patient and empathetic foster carers. They may have experienced significant trauma, neglect or loss and will need help overcoming this. They may be behind in school work and need support developing social skills so they can build friendships and become well rounded adults.
These young people may struggle to accept that they cannot live with their birth family. They'll need your support through this time as they find out who they are and where they belong.
Kind natured and hard working girl, Melanie, 14
Melanie is 14 years old and is interested in singing and drama and has recently started cheerleading. She cooks for the homeless community once a week as part of her work with the Youth Offending Service.
She takes pride in her physical appearance and enjoys spending time being creative with her makeup. She enjoys playing on the X-box, watching Netflix and listening to music.
Melanie's favourite subject at school is Health and Social Care and she has taken great pride in her coursework in this subject, writing about her own experiences.
Melanie's parents, siblings and friends are important to her and she would like to be able to maintain these relationships in her placement. She likes it when people talk with her and involve her in decisions. Melanie feels that she is good at recognising positive things in other people, but she sometimes struggles to see them in herself.
Melanie needs support in finding ways to cope with her emotions. She is at risk of going missing and of child sexual exploitation and she communicates via social media with other young people who are vulnerable.
How to help and support Melanie
- offer time, patience and a non-judgmental listening ear
- understand Melanie’s world and the reasons she is struggling to process her emotions and help her find more positive ways of coping with her feelings.
- take a keen interest in her friendships and what they mean to her
- be positive about her family and support her to develop a positive relationship with them
- support her education and give lots of praise for her work
- be willing to work with the professionals involved in Melanie’s life as they are a valuable source of support and advice.
Lively and enthusiastic boy, Arron, 14
Arron is full of energy and interested in whatever's going on around him. He has had many changes in his life, including his parents' separation. He now needs a foster home to see him through to adulthood.
Arron is open about his feelings but can be anxious about life, his future and uncertain about making friends. If he becomes too anxious, he runs from the situation.
Arron needs calm carers with plenty of time to help him with self confidence and managing his anxiety, especially as school moves towards exams. He'd like to go to university and to become a scientist.
Arron’s mother is white British and his father is from a British Asian Indian family. Carers may need to support Arron in understanding his heritage.