Focused on ‘the power of relationships’ - because at the heart of every fostering journey are the connections that make all the difference – the Achieving for Children team, who deliver the council’s fostering service and have their own fostering experience, will be on hand to answer questions at:
• Norden Farm, Maidenhead, from 10-3pm on Thursday 15 May
• Windsor High Street (near M&S) from 9am-5pm on Thursday 22 May
With a shortage of foster carers in the borough to offer children and young people a home when they are unable to live with their own family, some children needing support end up living far away from family, friends and school or even being separated from their siblings.
To help address this the council is encouraging residents over 21, with the time to care for a young person, to consider if they could provide a loving home for a child or children in care - whether it’s for a few days or until adulthood.
Understanding that financial concerns are often a barrier to people recognising their potential to foster a child - the package of financial, practical and emotional support that existing and new foster carers, registered with Achieving for Children, was recently boosted.
It now includes a welcome payment, competitive weekly fostering fee and London rate child allowance - alongside reimbursement of council tax and a range of training and expert support to help deliver the best possible care.
This support was also recognised as part of the praise received from Ofsted inspectors, who rated the borough’s fostering service as ‘good’ earlier this year – which followed the ‘good rating’ received for the borough’s children’s services, with ‘outstanding support for care leavers’ at the end of last year.
By encouraging more people to provide a home for children inside the borough the council will also save on costly foster placements that are arranged outside the borough, helping to reduce significant pressure on the council’s budget.
Cabinet Member for Children's Services and Education, Cllr Amy Tisi said: "We really value our foster carers for the vital support they provide to the young people in their care and our package of incentives and support reflects that.
"I'm sure many residents are interested in finding out what it's like to be a foster carer, and they probably have questions based on their own personal situations. So, this Foster Care Fortnight I encourage anyone thinking they could offer support, stability and a loving home to help change a child in care’s future to get in touch to find out more –by visiting one of the pop-up events in the borough or by contacting our fostering team.”
For more information on fostering in the Royal Borough visit our webpage