Posted on Wednesday 14th September 2011
Safety, love and support are the key qualities Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is looking for to attract more foster carers who can provide homes for the County Borough’s most vulnerable children and young people.
It is the Council’s policy to do everything that can be done to keep children with their parents or families. Sadly, however, this can not always be possible, which is where foster carers play such a vital role.
Whether married, in a civil partnership or single, as long as applicants have experience caring for children and a spare bedroom to offer, they could be eligible to become foster carers.
Foster caring is a big commitment and requires much dedication but the rewards can be immeasurable. Carers have the chance to offer stable and secure environments that allow children to flourish.
In order for this to happen the Council offers a number of exclusive benefits to carers to help ensure each placement is a success.
In addition to financial assistance that covers everything from school clothes to birthdays and 24-hour support systems that run seven days a week, foster carers are entitled to free access to leisure facilities across the County Borough for themselves and their families.
The role asks for tolerance, understanding and patience as the children who require care will come from a variety of backgrounds and abilities and may have difficult or traumatic pasts.
The Council provides in-depth training, an individual social worker for both carer and child and over 40 years of expert knowledge and experience to ensure that fosterers are supported every step of the way.
Carers are able to choose the length of placement they would like to offer such as short term, long term or part time, in addition to indicating the age range they are willing to accommodate.
There are currently 4,800 children in various types of care in Wales and over 500 in Rhondda Cynon Taf alone. With a national shortage of foster carers, the Council is urging those who think they have what it takes to step forward.
Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Cllr Annette Davies, said: “To become a foster carer and devote oneself to loving and supporting a child who may have had an incredibly distressing past is truly admirable.
“It is incredibly important for the Council to recruit more fosterers from the local area as this lessens the risk of children and young people being relocated out of the County and away from family, friends and school, which can be an extremely distressing experience.
We welcome people from all walks of life who share a dedication to improving the lives of those in their care.
Foster carers receive full training in many areas including first aid and fire safety with the opportunity of gaining formal qualifications in childcare.
Carers do not need to own their own property or already have children. They just need to have enough space to accommodate a child.
To find out more contact the Council’s Fostering Team on 0800 085 2635.