Have you got room in your home and your heart to foster? Haringey Council is marking foster care fortnight with a series of sessions aimed at encouraging more people to take on the inspiring role.
Foster carers are urgently needed in the borough to look after children who, for a range of reasons, can no longer live with their families. There are around 432 children in care in Haringey, and we particularly need foster carers for teenagers, as 37 per cent are aged 15 – 17.
At one of our information sessions, residents can find out more about what being a foster carer involves, what training and support they receive, and get the chance to chat with a foster carer.
As a foster carer in Haringey you receive:
• 24-hour expert advice and support all year round
• Monthly supervision and regular support from your personal dedicated supervising social worker
• Up to £427 per week per child
• Close working with professional support teams, including child social workers, health and educational specialists
Jan is a Haringey resident who has been fostering for three years. She said:
“I’m really pleased I made the decision to become a foster carer and would urge anyone who is thinking about it to give it a go.
“Of course it has been demanding and challenging but I have really enjoyed it, I’ve learned a lot about myself as well as lots of new skills.
The rewards far outweigh any challenges.”
Read Jan’s full story below.
Information sessions will be held on:
Tuesday May 22, 10am to 2pm at Costa Coffee, Wood Green Shopping City
Wednesday May 23, 10am to 2pm ant Wood Green Library, High Road, Wood Green
Thursday 24 May, at the Cypriot Centre, Earlham Grove, Wood Green 6pm to 8pm
For more information and to find out about future sessions, visit: www.haringey.gov.uk/foster
Case study
Haringey resident Jan became a foster carer three years ago after she gave up full time work for health reasons.
A former probation officer and director of a third sector organisation, she has so far taken on two placements – a family of three siblings who she looked after on a short respite basis and a teenager who now remains living with her as a care leaver under the national ‘Staying Put’ scheme.
Jan said: “I was going to be spending more time at home and wanted to do something worthwhile.
“Initially I only wanted to foster four to 11 year olds, but my first placement was a family of three children aged 11, six and one, which was obviously quite demanding and a different experience.
And now I have a teenager living with me, which has also been quite eye-opening.”
Jan now works part-time alongside fostering. She is offered ongoing support and training and also goes to support groups aimed at foster carers.
“I still get lots of support and am regularly in touch with my social worker, even though the teenager staying with me has left care now,” she said.
“I’m really pleased I made the decision to become a foster carer and would urge anyone who is thinking about it to give it a go.
“Of course it has been demanding and challenging but I have really enjoyed it, I’ve learned a lot about myself as well as lots of new skills.
The rewards far outweigh any challenges.”
To find out more about fostering in Haringey visit:www.haringey.gov.uk/fostering
