The Family Placement Service is calling on individuals and families in the Bailiwick of Guernsey to consider fostering, as Foster Care Fortnight 2021 gets underway today.
The Fostering Network’s annual awareness campaign, Foster Care Fortnight, is taking place from the 10th to 23rd May all across the UK with a theme this year of #WhyWeCare.
Guernsey’s Family Placement Service use this opportunity every year to highlight foster care in the Bailiwick and to encourage the local community to consider fostering a child or young person. Whether Fostering is something you’ve considered for some time or thought about more recently, Foster Care Fortnight is a great time to see whether it might be right for you or your family.
Fostering offers children and young people a home when they are unable to live with their birth family. Sometimes children only stay with a foster family for a few days, while others will live with their foster family for their entire childhood and beyond. Foster carers make a significant difference in the lives of fostered children and young people, helping them to flourish and changing their future. Not only does fostering vastly benefit the children and young people, but it is also a life changing experience for the foster carers and their families.
Senior supervising social worker Emma Beaven, who focuses on recruitment and retention of carers, said: “Foster Care Fortnight is a fantastic opportunity for our service to highlight the need we have year-round to recruit more foster carers. The focus of this year’s campaign will centre on the theme #WhyWeCare, providing a glimpse into the experiences of foster carers and what keeps them in the role, which you will see through features on our Facebook page, Guernsey Foster Care and Adoption, throughout the two week period.
“We’d also suggest everyone keep an eye out for some small fluffy creatures dotted around the island, which we would encourage members of the public to take away with them. We will also have a presence in St Peter Port over lunchtimes on the two Friday’s if anyone wants to find out a bit more information or have a no obligation
chat with one of our social workers.”
The Family Placement Service is also pleased to announce the launch of their new Supported Lodgings Scheme, and are looking for mentors to take on this supportive role. This scheme is designed to offer an additional provision for young people who are ready to leave care but may not be ready to live alone. As a mentor you will offer guidance and assistance to young people, which will enable them to develop practical life skills, as well as further developing their emotional maturity to move on and to be better equipped to living independently, although will not incur the same responsibility as a foster carer.
The Family Placement Service would like to hear from any individual or families who are able to provide accommodation and support for young people aged 18-21 years old.
Karen Reade, Team Manager of the Family Placement Service said: “The development of the Supported Lodgings Scheme in Guernsey is a very exciting opportunity for young people, particularly those leaving residential care, to have ongoing support to enable them to go on to live independently.
“If you want to be part of this or our other life changing roles and think you could offer the support, stability and care to help change a child or young person’s future, please get in touch with us here or phone us on 01481 223182. Our team of social workers are ready to answer any questions you have about fostering and we look forward to speaking to you.”
There is a current need for people who can care for children and young people of all age ranges as well as a continued need for short break carers who can give flexible time to support children with disabilities who are living at home with their families.
