About us
Foster Care Associates (FCA) Scotland took on its first foster child in 2002. Today, we’re supporting over 100 children and young people in communities across the country. With almost 20 years’ experience, we’re an established fostering specialist.
Involving people and improving services since 2002
Along with our sister organisation Foster Care Associates, we’re one of the UK’s largest and best respected fostering organisations, which means we’re able to offer exceptional resources, support and expertise to help change the experiences and life chances of children and young people.
We have a dedicated focus on supporting foster children and foster parents in Scotland. Our statement of purpose is ‘to make a positive and lasting difference to the lives of children and young people’, and over the last 20 years or so we’ve helped hundreds of children and young people take steps to a better future.
Part of our family
We want foster carers and the children they look after to feel they’re part of our large family. Everyone has a voice, and we make sure we listen. It’s this sense of involvement that makes people choose to foster with us – and you’ll experience it in everything we do – from our unique Team Parenting™ model and ‘Buddy Scheme’ through to our forums for children and foster parents. Our ‘passion for participation’ has helped us create a positive and empowering culture where everyone feels respected, valued and able to contribute.
Two local teams based in Glasgow and Rosyth
Supporting 100 children & young people
Working alongside over 100 foster parents
Supporting children & young people since 2002
Working together to become even stronger
By involving everyone, asking for ideas and feedback and collaborating together, we’re able to continuously improve and develop our services. In Scotland, for example, we’ve recently introduced even more support groups and events and activities, along with an email ‘hotline’ direct to our management team. As a leading fostering specialist, we’re also involved in many pioneering fostering initiatives, such as supporting unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. So when you join FCA Scotland, you’ll be joining a dynamic, professional organisation that’s always striving to be better - and always wants you to be a part of it.
Our expertise and commitment to fostering has been recognised by The Care Inspectorate for Scotland, who rate our work as ‘Very Good’, reflecting the hard work and contribution of everyone here.
FCA Scotland is part of Polaris, a leading UK community of children’s service providers. Together, we’re changing lives of children in every corner of the country, including in communities across Scotland.
Aiming high at FCA Scotland
FCA Scotland offers high quality family placements and related support services to children and young people who are looked after by local authorities. Our primary aim is to give children and young people the opportunity to achieve their full potential and to live fulfilling lives in the community. We work in partnership with local authorities to offer community based services within national frameworks, designed to meet a wide range of needs. We provide intensive, locally based support to our foster carers, children and young people and their families via multidisciplinary teams of childcare professionals.
Our aims and objectives
Child-centred
To provide a child-centred and inclusive partnership based approach which embraces children and young people, their families, foster carers, local authority and other agency colleagues.
Stable placements
To do everything possible to achieve a stable placement, free from disruption, where a child and young person’s needs are understood and met.
Respect
To respect and promote the racial, cultural, religious and linguistic backgrounds of children and young people.
Gender and sexuality
To consider fully the gender and sexuality of fostered children and young people when making placement decisions.
Complex needs
To meet the needs of disabled children and young people including those with physical/learning disabilities, Autism/ADHD, sensory impairment, and those who have complex health needs and are life limited - also those that present with challenging behaviours due to their disabilities.
Diversity
To recruit foster carers from a wide range of backgrounds so that we can offer appropriate placements for children and young people.
Support
To provide 24 hour support for our foster carers and children and young people, 7 days a week.
Training
To provide ongoing training and development of our foster carers.
Qualified staff
To provide a workforce of managers, practitioners and support staff who are appropriately qualified and registered with their professional regulatory body, as well as being supported in continuous professional development.
Interested in becoming a foster parent with FCA Scotland?
Do you have the skills and compassion needed to be a foster parent? Enter your town or postcode to find your nearest office or get in touch today.
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