Charter for carers who help 'turn a child's life around'

The borough's band of carers who offer stable, loving and supportive homes to children who cannot live with their own families have been recognised with a new charter that underlines their central role in helping to 'turn a child's life around'.

The Foster Carers Charter, approved by cabinet last night (Wednesday), demonstrates that carers are a key part of the professional team working to improve outcomes for children, many of them vulnerable and in need of the unique support that being part of a family provides. It also emphasises carers' importance in supporting the council as 'corporate parent' responsible for ensuring the protection and welfare of children in care.

Cllr Eileen Quick, cabinet member for children's services, said: "I never cease to be amazed by what our foster carers achieve for the children they take into their homes. I have seen how they can help us turn a child's life around and they certainly deserve their own charter that recognises their huge contribution to ensuring that children get the best possible support and care with warm and welcoming families."

Making it clear that children come first at all times, the new charter promotes the council's commitment to working with, supporting and consulting with foster carers so they are conscious of being part of a team and have easy access to help and advice themselves if they need it.

Cllr Quick explained: "At times fostering can be a challenging task and the charter demonstrates our commitment to working with carers to ensure they don't feel isolated and that at all times they are part of the professional team dedicated to making things better for children."

The charter will be an important part of the council's ongoing drive to recruit more carers to ensure that local children can be placed with local families - in most cases providing better quality of care, closer to home and giving the council better value for money. Currently there are 58 children placed in the borough and another 24 elsewhere.

Cllr Quick added: "People often ask me about how many foster carers we need and my reply is 'how long is a piece of string?' We always need to find more carers and are keen to hear from anyone who feels they can offer a stable and loving home to children who really need our help"

The Royal Borough's fostering team offers extensive training and generous allowances so that foster carers is given all the support they need to look after the children placed with them.

Information evenings are held every two months at the Town Hall, Maidenhead, attended by team members and also foster carers themselves who are happy to discuss their experiences and pass on help and advice.

Details of the information evenings are available on the borough's website at www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/social_fars_info-evenings.htm. No need to book, just come along for an informal chat.

The next information evening is on Wednesday 9 January 2013 (7 to 9pm) in the council chamber, Town Hall, Maidenhead.

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