Coventry Telegraph

DESPERATE PLEA FOR COV FOSTER CARERS

- By TOM DAVIS Local Democracy Reporter

COVENTRY residents are being urged to sign up as foster carers - as a national charity warns of a ‘looming crisis’ caused by the coronaviru­s pandemic.

There are currently 693 children looked after by Coventry City Council, of which 504 are placed with foster carers, while just over a quarter are still without a home.

Nationally, concerns have been raised by the Independen­t Foster Carers Alliance which has warned the sector faces a ‘looming crisis’ as the coronaviru­s begins to place a strain on foster families.

The city council said there is a particular challenge around the profile of foster carers as a number of them fall into the shielding categories.

“This has led to some of our fostering placements being unavailabl­e as foster carers cannot have new children joining the household,” a spokesman for the authority said.

“Whilst this is not an immediate issue, there is an ongoing need for more households to be recruited both the meet the ongoing need for fostering homes and to ensure there continues to be choice of placements when some households are not available.”

The services has had to “adjust quickly to adapt”, the council said.

Other challenges faced include many carers now spending significan­tly more time at home and routines such as school attendance changing.

During the pandemic the council is still able to undertake recruitmen­t, assessment and support virtually via video calls.

Cllr Pat Seaman, cabinet member for children and young people, has led calls for foster families to come forward during the pandemic.

She said: “We always need more good people to come forward and if you are interested in fostering please do not hesitate to get in touch.

“I want to say a huge thank you to all our incredible foster carers. They are the lifeblood of children’s services and just like they do in normal times, they are continuing to care and provide practical and emotional support for the children they foster despite the hugely challengin­g circumstan­ces.”

A national fostering agency who provides care for those in the Coventry area is also highlighti­ng the issue.

Jenny Huggins, registered manager at Fosterplus Coventry, said: “With coronaviru­s leading to many understand­ably focusing on the pandemic and their isolation, fostering may be something people are just not considerin­g.

“While this may be a time filled with fear and uncertaint­y, we’re asking people to think about these vulnerable young people.

“If you can offer stability and a nurturing home environmen­t to a foster child, please consider picking up the phone to talk through any questions you may have. You could change someone’s life.”

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