In a significant change to policy, Guernsey’s social housing tenants can now apply to be foster carers. Previously this wasn’t possible due to the rules regarding spare rooms in Social Housing.
The Committee for Employment & Social Security have agreed to change the policy and remove this obstacle for any of our tenants who wish to apply to become foster parents.
Lynne McLagan, Director of Housing said: “We know from previous experience in Guernsey and the UK that social housing tenants can make wonderful foster parents. Aside from the obvious advantages to more children having access to foster care that this initiative will provide, there are also additional benefits to the management of our housing stock.
“Enabling our tenants to apply to foster and transfer to larger accommodation (up to 3 bed only) or remain in accommodation if they have a spare room, could free up our smaller units of accommodation for which there is significant demand”.
In order to provide more information for our social housing tenants interested in fostering, a series of drop-in events have been arranged where representatives from the fostering and housing teams will be available to answer any questions.
- Wednesday 21st October: 12:30-2pm at St Martin’s Parish Hall
- Thursday 22nd October: 5:30-7pm at Beau Sejour
- Friday 23rd October: 1-2:30pm at Kindred Centre
Emma Beaven, Supervising Social Worker, Family Placement Services said: “This change in policy by Committee for Employment & Social Security has been welcomed by the Family Placement team. A shortage of foster carers in Guernsey often leads to a lack of placement choice for young people which results in some young people being placed in residential homes when they could be placed in a family environment. Research has shown that children benefit significantly in terms of their emotional, social and educational development if they are placed with a foster family.
“Fostering can be challenging but it is also extremely rewarding. I would like to encourage anyone who is interested to come to the planned drop-in sessions or to contact the Family Placement Services for more information.”
