Autism Support
Credo Care is experienced in meeting the needs of autistic children within foster care. Find out more by downloading our specialist free support guide below.
Autism Support
Credo Care is experienced in meeting the needs of autistic children within foster care. Find out more by downloading our specialist free support guide below.
What Is Autism?
Autism is a condition that you are born with and is a lifelong neurodevelopmental difference. It presents differently in each autistic person. Autistic people have brains which are built in a fundamentally different way from non-autistic people. Autistic people have differences in how they process information, how they communicate and how they interact with the world, meaning they may have different strengths and difficulties to other people.
Fostering An Autistic Child
There is a saying – “It takes a village to raise a child”.
This is especially true when fostering an autistic child. Having the correct team to support you is vital and it is important that each person understands the needs and strengths of the autistic foster child and works consistently to meet those needs and build upon their strengths.
There is no cure for autism as it is a neurological and developmental condition, however with the right empathetic approach, interventions and strategies, the autistic child can be guided on to how best to navigate an often confusing world. Where there is lack of skills these can be taught and increased and where there are strengths and abilities, of which there are often many, these can be recognised and encouraged. As a foster carer you would be so influential in recognising the strengths and have the reward of seeing the child’s achievements, despite their difficulties. There are so many strengths which we can build on as foster carers:
A rare freshness and sense of wonderment
Exceptional honesty and reliability
Thinking and learning in a visual way
Being precise and detail orientated
Having an excellent sense of direction
Memorising and learning information quickly
Able to concentrate for long periods of time when motivated
An extraordinarily good memory (being able to remember facts for a long period of time)
A capability for alternate problem solving
Be very punctual
Logical thinking ability
Meet Jan
Credo Care’s Behaviour and Autism Specialist.
Jan
Autism & Behaviour Specialist
Fostering an autistic child can sometimes be very challenging, not because they are challenging to us or using unwanted behaviour, but because we need to develop an understanding of that child’s needs which can be difficult and complex. Often they either cannot communicate their needs to us, or they don’t really have an understanding of their own needs. Being a mental detective can be quite difficult and coming up with the right approach and support strategies can be complex.
Jan’s role is to work as part of the team around the child, with the foster carers and support workers to help to find solutions to enable their autistic child to reach their potential and promote well-being.
This might involve:
- Meeting virtually or face to face, regular phone calls offering encouragement, support and advice
- Behaviour assessments and production of a behaviour support plan
- Sensory assessments
- One to one bespoke training around the needs of the specific child
- Group training on autism characteristics
Autism Specialist Status
At Credo Care, we are proud to be part of a growing community of services committed to providing the highest standard of support for autistic people.
Credo Care has been awarded Autism Specialist status by The National Autistic Society.
The National Autistic Society is the UK’s leading charity for autistic people and their families. They provide support, guidance and advice as well as campaigning for improved rights, services and opportunities to help create a society that works for autistic people.
Our Managing Director, Richard Powell said “This is an amazing achievement which has allowed us to showcase the care and support offered by our agency to those with autism. I’d like to thank all of our foster carers and staff for their input and as always, I am incredibly proud of their hard work and commitment”.
If you’re considering whether you would like to foster with Credo Care? Learn more about joining the Credo Care community.
Inspirational Stories
Read about the members of our fostering community and their journey with autism.
Celebrating Casper
I can say I am very happy to have grown up fostering and for sure I am a better person because of it. Casper’s foster carer’s dedication to him and their desire to see him reaching his potential is a shining light.
Celebrating Autism & Fostering
The small steps she makes are amazing and for celebration. It can be challenging but exciting at the same time because every day holds a new adventure.
Fostering is wonderful, fostering an autistic child is amazing!
Celebrating Addison
Addison has made remarkable progress in his short time with his foster carers who have understood his needs and been reflective about how to not only meet those needs but also to find ways to help Addison to reach his full potential.
Fostering With Credo Care
At Credo Care, our priority is the best outcome for our fostering families and children or young people.
As a foster carer with us, you will have access to:
- A supervising social worker who will support and guide you throughout your fostering journey.
- Support worker/s who will be matched with your family to support the child or young person in your care.
- Specialist training, along with 24/7 support, 365 days a year.
- Guidance from an In-house behaviour and autism specialist.
- A mentor who is also an experienced foster carer.
- Membership to the Fostering Network.
- Professional Development in the form of fostering qualifications.
- Access to local support groups, giving you the opportunity to meet with other foster carers and receive face to face agency updates from members of the Credo team.
- A dedicated referrals and placements team. At Credo Care, a lot of consideration is given to introductions and planning, ensuring we match the right child for the foster family.
The Credo Care Family
We want every child and young person to have the opportunity to participate, achieve and enjoy being part of the Credo Care community.
Find out how we engage with our fostering community
The Credo Care Choir
An AQA Recognised Centre
Credo Care is a recognised centre for an awarding body in England called AQA, formerly known as the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance. This means we can offer our children and young people the opportunity to work towards AQA Awards. The awards are designed to be accessed by all young people of school age of any ability, recognising achievements in all areas from academic subjects to life skills with more than 12,000 units available, ranging from pre-entry level up to level 5.
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We can even design our own units to showcase our children and young people’s strengths. Any completed and verified award results in a formal certificate for the young person to recognise their achievement. As an added extra, we like to send badges and rosettes to our young people when they achieve an AQA award.
Follow this link to find out more about AQA unit awards and to view the topics available at various levels:
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme
Credo Care is a licensed organisation for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. This scheme exists to allow young people aged 14 to 24 to engage in a true life experience. It is designed to be fun, to be non-competitive, to allow young people to discover new interests or talents and to develop those they already have. The award is a recognised mark of achievement by society, educational bodies and employers.
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At Credo Care, the scheme is open to our foster children and young people, the children and young people of our foster carers and members of staff. We have leaders and helpers registered throughout the agency to assist our young people as they embark on their Duke of Edinburgh journey.
The award requires the completion of four sections; Physical, Skill, Volunteering and Expedition. To enable our children and young people to participate in the scheme, adjustments are made, with each section of the award carefully tailored to allow for any difficulties a young person may face. A certificate is received for every milestone of an individual section being completed.
Follow this link to find out more about the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme: https://www.dofe.org/about/
#Credo’ssuper-duperamazingteam
In 2022, Credo Care launched The Home Improvers Group, #Credo’ssuper-duperamazingteam. This group includes some of the fostered children and young people of Credo Care and is lead by our Participation and Engagement Officers, Nikki Phillips and Michelle Dean. The name, hashtag and logo of the group was chosen and designed by the young members of The Home Improvers Group.
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At Credo Care, we believe it is very important to hear what our children and young people have to say about things that are important to them and this group gives them the opportunity to interact with each other and our Participation and Engagement Officers on a regular basis.
A recent contribution from the group were the questions they would like posed to prospective foster carers when at fostering panel.
Keep up to date with the amazing achievements of our children and young people by visiting our news page.
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