Advice

Fostering is one of the most rewarding ways to make a profound difference in a child's life. At Orchard Fostering, we regularly speak with prospective foster carers who wonder whether they can open their homes and hearts to more than one child. It's a question that reflects both the generous spirit of potential carers and the practical considerations that come with foster care. The simple answer is yes – you absolutely can foster more than one child in Ireland. However, the process involves careful assessment,

Deciding to foster is a family decision, not just a parental one. Long before a foster child ever arrives, your own children need to understand what's changing, why it's happening, and what it means for them. Get this conversation right, and it becomes the foundation your birth children stand on throughout the whole fostering journey. Get it wrong, or skip it, and even a well-prepared placement can start on shaky ground. Here's how to approach it, from the first conversation through to the questions that

For many foster carers, few parts of the role bring up as many mixed feelings as birth family contact. You watch a child light up at the thought of seeing their mam, then come home unsettled and tearful for two days afterwards. You meet a parent who is doing their best in very difficult circumstances, and you want to support them while also protecting the child you care for. It can feel like holding two things at once that don't always sit easily together. If

If you've been thinking about fostering and have started to look into it, you've probably asked yourself: what actually happens during the assessment? It's one of the most common questions people have — and understandably so. The process involves sharing quite a lot about yourself and your life, and it's natural to want to know what to expect before you begin. The good news is that the foster care assessment, while thorough, is designed to support you rather than catch you out. Most people who

Every child who comes into foster care brings with them a world of their own — experiences, memories, and a cultural identity that is entirely their own. For children who are placed with a foster family from a different cultural background, that sense of identity becomes all the more important to nurture and protect. Ireland is a richly diverse country, and that diversity is reflected in its foster care system. Many children in care come from backgrounds that differ from those of their foster families

Every child deserves to know their story. For foster children, understanding where they come from and how they arrived at where they are today forms a crucial foundation for their emotional wellbeing and sense of self. Life story work offers a structured, therapeutic approach to helping children in care make sense of their past, present, and future. This powerful tool doesn't simply record events—it helps children process complex experiences, build resilience, and develop a coherent sense of identity that will serve them throughout their lives.