East of England local authorities collaborate to appeal for more foster families to work with their council
Wednesday, 29 May 2024
Eleven local authorities across the East of England have joined forces in a bid to collectively recruit more foster carers to look after some of the region’s most vulnerable children.
We are taking part in a new initiative for fostering under the banner Foster East. There is an urgent need for foster carers in the East of England with more than 7,000 vulnerable children already in the care of their local authority, and a further 150 children coming into care every month.
The Foster East initiative which is funded by the Department of Education and launched today (Wednesday 29 May), is a new, collaborative approach to foster carer recruitment and support. Councils will work together to provide more comprehensive training, support and best practice. Each applicant will be nurtured through their fostering journey with their local council and via a buddy network. Foster East advisors will help people find out how fostering can become part of their life.
Fostering is a flexible role with options for short term care from a weekend a month to longer term opportunities, all providing life-changing support for local children.
Sarah-Jane Smedmor, Director of Children’s Services at Central Bedfordshire Council, said:
We understand that moving into foster care is a significant change for any child. Keeping children and young people local to their support networks – helping them stay in their current school and continuing their usual activities – can help minimise this. That’s why it’s crucial that we have enough foster families in our area, who can offer safe and nurturing homes for children of all ages, from babies to teenagers, here in Central Bedfordshire. Foster carers play such a valuable role in our communities, providing stability, love, and care and making a real difference to children’s lives. That’s why, collectively in the East of England, we want to improve the experience that our foster carers have during the application process and provide solid training and in-depth support to ensure they can care with confidence.
Foster carers working for independent fostering agencies are also invited to transfer to their local council via Foster East. They will benefit from local training, and a linked foster carers support network which will offer respite care for foster families needing a break.
Foster East will give people considering fostering the opportunity to speak to an advisor from 8am to 8pm daily, and the chance to talk to an experienced foster carer to find out more about what the role involves and ask any questions they may have.
Anyone interested in becoming a foster carer in Central Bedfordshire can find out more by visiting the Foster East website.