"Our foster carers can come from all walks of life"
Foster Carers Open Evenings
An independent fostering agency wants to hear from potential foster carers who can offer children and young people a stable home throughout the North-West region.
Young Foundations Fostering covers the whole of the north-west from it’s team of social workers based in Manchester city centre and offers placements to children and young people aged between 0 and 18.
It is to hold two Open Evenings where prospective foster carers can meet existing carers and Young Foundations staff to discuss any questions they might have and hear more about what it is like to be a foster carer.
The agency works with local authorities and families in the North-West area to ensure children and young people can achieve the best outcomes possible. All of its foster carers have the Children’s Workforce Development Council Award for Foster Carers.
While Young Foundations already have carers ready to foster children in the North West, more carers are needed. Young Foundations wants to recruit people from different backgrounds who are able to provide a home for children aged between 0 and 18 for periods ranging between from a few days to much longer stays.
If you are interested in finding out more about fostering there are two events being held in the region. There will be people on hand to advise about fostering from Young Foundations as well as existing foster carers who can give their view on this rewarding career.
The first is in Manchester on Tuesday June 29th between 5pm and 8pm. The event is being held at the Princess on Portland Best Western Hotel, at 101 Portland Street, Manchester, M1 6DF. Light refreshments will be served.
The second event is being held the following evening, Wednesday June 30th, between 5pm and 8pm, in Blackburn at the Blackburn Technology Management Centre, Challenge Way, Greenbank Technology Park, Blackburn, Lancs, BB1 5QB.
Eric Forster, Director of Fostering Services, said: “Foster carers are needed for individual children, groups of brothers and sisters, teenage mothers and young people with complex needs who may require a home where there are no other children.
“We are particularly interested in people who have relevant experience, such as youth work, teaching, residential care etc as well as those who have experienced parenting their own children. We would like to invite anyone interested along to our Open Evenings.”
Young Foundations offers a generous package of support including a realistic professional fee and allowance, 24-hour support by qualified and experienced staff and regular training for foster carers. Carers can expect to earn over £400 a week, tax free.
Carers are also supported by a psychologist from the clinical team and educational staff to ensure young people are being given the opportunity to achieve their potential.
Mr Forster added: “We also operate a mentor system where our more experienced foster carers are linked to new carers to advise and support them during their first placements. We treat our foster carers as equal partners in a vitally important endeavour. What job is more important than caring for children and young people and being able to offer them the chance to achieve their full potential?
“We need carers from all walks of life and all parts of the community. Our drive to recruit more foster carers and our commitment to provide them with more support will mean that more children will get the care and stability they need.”
Young Foundations also provides a comprehensive induction-training course for new foster carers and a programme of on-going training for registered carers which includes the opportunity to undertake the NVQ Level Three in Caring for Children and Young People.
If you would like to know more about becoming a foster carer please call (0161) 234 0153 and ask for an information pack, visit www.yffostering.com or come along to one of the Open Evenings.