Foster carers in North Yorkshire are to benefit from a multi-point charter of pledges and commitments from the county council.
To celebrate Foster Care Fortnight – which ends next Friday (May 25) – the council has adopted a Foster Carers’ Charter, which sets out clear principles of what foster carers can expect in the way of support from the authority.
It also recognises the invaluable role of foster carers in providing safe and caring homes for vulnerable children.
County Councillor Carl Les, Cynthia Welbourn, Corporate Director, Children and Young People’s Service, and Annie Shaw, Head of Fostering and Adoption
The commitments include valuing the skills and expertise of carers equally with those of other professionals, recognising that carers are the people who live with children every day and know them best, and Including carers in all meetings that affect them and the children they care for.
County Councillor Carl Les, the Council’s Deputy Leader said:
Being a foster carer takes time, energy and understanding, but it can be immensely rewarding.
There are many day-to-day moments that can help change a child’s life, like the moment when the child in your care smiles for the first time, trusts you enough to hold your hand or learns a new skill like tying their shoelaces.
That’s when you know that through your support and care you’re making a real difference to the lives of vulnerable children.
We hope that by signing up to the charter we can help to make the challenging but vital role of foster carers as straightforward as possible.
Fostering North Yorkshire urgently need an additional 60 foster carers to look after local children, particularly in areas with an acute shortage of carers including Harrogate, Northallerton, Scarborough and Selby.
To support foster carers the County Council offers ongoing help, advice and training, as well as an allowance ranging from £134.51 to £313.75 a week to cover the cost of looking after a child.
People who are interested in becoming a foster carer can find out about the next information evening near them by calling Fostering North Yorkshire on 0800 054 6989.
For more information about being a foster carer and to read the charter go to www.northyorks.gov.uk/fostering
