Men in Fostering (Men Who Care)

The role of a carer can be both enriching and, at the same time, extremely challenging. Being a male carer has even more challenges. Women are traditionally seen as caregivers. Often, a man who devotes his life to caring for children is viewed with suspicion.

Every carer has unique skills, experiences and abilities that they bring to the fostering task, regardless of gender. However, a male carer must think carefully about his role in caring for children, particularly those who have had negative experiences with men.

Many young people entering the looked-after system have come from a single-parent families with no consistent male role model. Many benefit enormously from the mentoring, care and nurturing a male carer can provide. This course offers male carers a perspective on their role in the care of looked after children.

Learning Aims:

1. Exploring struggles men face in foster care
2. Explore the role of men in fostering and what constitutes a positive male role model
3. Explore how male carers are perceived by professionals, children and young people
4. Explore and recognise how men contribute to the development of children and young people and improved outcomes
5. Explore aspects of safer caring concerning the male carer
6. Highlight the unique position men in foster care are in and how they support children to gain positive attachments and build healthy relationships with men.
7. Understanding and getting an insight into the allegations process
8. Importance of safer care policy
9. Learning how to support children safely without restricting the carer