Fife Council is looking for compassionate and patient Fifers to become full and part-time foster carers for local neurodivergent children.

Neurodiversity means that everyone's brain is different. Around 15-20% of grown-ups and children are neurodivergent, meaning their brains work differently from what is considered "normal" or "typical". Neurodivergent conditions include autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and others.

Everyone has things they're good at and things they find challenging. For neurodivergent grown-ups and children, these differences can be more noticeable.

Neurodivergent children may have strengths in problem-solving, creativity, thinking outside the box, spotting patterns, and attention to detail. Their individual brains can also influence social interactions, learning, attention, sensory experiences, and other ways of engaging with the world and others, which can present challenges and unique opportunities.

So, fostering neurodivergent children is an incredibly rewarding experience requiring patience, empathy and commitment to making a positive impact on a child's life and help them thrive and reach their full potential.

It all starts with a stable, loving home in which foster carers and their families help neurodivergent children feel safe, supported, and encouraged to enjoy their childhood.

Fife Council recognises the unique challenges faced by our foster carers looking after neurodivergent children and will provide training and relevant support from other foster carers and professionals.

Foster carer Gilean Dickson says:

"Being a new foster carer, I'd never previously had an experience with neurodivergent children or fostering in general. So, I'd love to say it's not been challenging because it definitely has. But, it has been far, far more rewarding than challenging! The steps and progress the boy in my care has made in the past six months have been extraordinary. It's like two different children! He's non-verbal, but he and I have learned how to communicate really well, so he's able to ask for things and enjoy himself knowing I can help him and am there for him. It's been like no other experience."

Kelly Blaik, Fife Council's Fostering Team Manager, says:

"Not all disabilities are visible, but every child affected by one deserves a supportive and loving home. Neurodivergence covers a wide range of conditions, so our foster carers are provided with support and training to be able to communicate and understand a particular child’s needs. Although it's not a requirement at all, some of our carers have personal experience of neurodiversity, either being neurodivergent themselves or someone they know, so they understand the unique opportunities and challenges a child can face growing up a bit different to their classmates. Every child is different, that's what makes them themselves. We need full-time foster carers for local neurodivergent children, as well as carers who can provide short breaks to other carers, kinship carers or parents to give them a wee break and let the children enjoy new experiences with new people."

Get more information about fostering neurodivergent young Fifers at Fostering a child with a disability | Foster Fife