Urgent need to find more foster carers

A DESPERATE shortage of foster carers has prompted a major recruitment drive by Leicestershire County Council.

An increase in the number of looked after children together with the impending retire- ment of some 60 foster carers means the authority is looking to attract around 200 new candidates over the next three years.

A £50,000 marketing campaign has been agreed and recruitment targeting launched. While interest has been encouraging with 26 applicants approved this year, this still falls below the anticipated level of 31 newcomers.

Sharon Cooke, assistant director for children’s social care at Leicestershire County Council said: “We urgently need people in the Hinckley area and across the wider county as a whole to open their hearts and their homes and consider becoming foster carers.

“The need for new carers is ongoing and we are constantly recruiting. Foster caring can transform lives, for both the young people in our care and our carers, who can make a real difference.

“We support carers along all stages of the fostering journey and as the local authority we are nearby to offer support and training.

“We hold information evenings for foster carers every three weeks at County Hall where people can learn more about fostering and speak to existing foster carers.”

The next event is planned for July with more information at www.fosteringleicestershire.com or by 0505.

While foster carers from all backgrounds are welcomed one of the most after ‘types’ are so-called specialist foster carers who are able to provide stability for children or young people who may have experienced trauma or who have challenging behaviours.

The county has recently launched a Facebook advertising campaign around this, as well as regular tweets via its corporate Twitter account.

Having enough suitable in-house fosterers is not only beneficial for prospective child placements but is also more cost effective for the council.

For in-house care there calling 0116 305 is on average a £15,000 saving per year on an ordinary placement rising to £150,000 where more complex one-onone care as against provision made through private agencies.

Matching a child to a suitable foster placement can be complex with many factors to take into account which means it is vital for the council to have a large cohort and choice of fostering placements.

If, as a local authority, the county does not have an in-house foster carer who suits this child’s needs, then an independent fostering agency would be used to see if they have an approved foster carer to match the child’s needs.