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Sibling Groups

It is an accepted belief that when children are separated from their parents, they suffer less if they can be placed along with their siblings.

However Local Authorities do have difficulty in finding carers who can accommodate 2, 3 or more children and will look to agencies like Hillcrest Fostercare to provide this service.

Caring for sibling groups requires flexible, energetic, organised carers with good support from family and friends and of course plenty of space at home!

Case Study: Sibling Group Placement

Fostering SiblingAnne 13, Dean 5 and Natalie 6 are brother and sisters whose parents both have learning difficulties and struggled to cope with the care and control of three lively children.

The children had been neglected and had adult responsibilities pushed onto them. Dean attends a special school but Anne and Natalie are much brighter than their parents and this caused a lot of conflict.

Their mother became seriously ill and the children became increasingly out of control and neglected.

In a foster placement together the children seemed “wild” at first, not understanding any of the rules of family life. They were desperate for adult care and attention and competed ruthlessly against each other.

They ate enormously and seemed clumsy and destructive. Once the children had adjusted to life in the foster family and got used to regular meals and to the adults being in control, they really blossomed and became rewarding to care for.

They have regular contact with their parents at weekends which is important to them. An attempt will be made to return the children home gradually, but if this fails they will remain fostered long term.