Blackpool Council named Fostering Friendly Employer

The new Fostering Friendly policy allows for a more flexible working pattern to Blackpool Council employees who are foster carers or are in the process of becoming one.

Becoming an accredited Fostering Friendly employer means that prospective and approved foster carers and kinship carers have access to up to 10 days of additional paid leave days each year to support their fostering responsibilities.

Provided on top of standard annual leave, the leave is also separate from existing special leave provisions.

The additional leave can be used for:

• Assessment and initial pre approval training
• Attendance at approval panel
• Child review meetings
• Annual foster carer review meetings
• Training and development
• Planning meetings
• Family time sessions
• Support groups

Nearly 40 per cent of foster carers combine fostering with other work nationally which is why the council has committed to making the workplace more flexible and supportive for foster carers.

The scheme will help staff to balance their foster caring duties with work and benefit the children in their care, as well as making it easier for people to consider fostering.

It applies regardless of which fostering service Blackpool Council employees are registered with.

Cllr Jim Hobson, Blackpool Council Cabinet Member for Children's Services, said:

"We recognise and value the vital contribution that foster carers and kinship carers make to our communities in Blackpool and especially the lives of children in our care. "The journey to become a foster carer comes with a number of reasonable but demanding expectations, particularly in relation to the training, assessment and approval process. "We understand that foster carers may need some flexibility in their working arrangements to meet the needs of their fostered child. Becoming part of the national Fostering Friendly scheme, means that we have put in place a dedicated policy to better support Blackpool Council staff who are also foster carers or approved kinship carers. "If you would like to find out about the wide range of support available, please get in touch with our friendly fostering team."

The council's ambition is to develop the support offer as well as exploring how the Fostering Friendly Employers scheme can be extended across the council's wholly owned companies.

Find out more about fostering by visiting https://www.blackpool.gov.uk/fostering or call 01253 420222.