Appeal for foster carers to help young people ‘thrive’
Child playing - Credit: PA Wire/Press Association Images
The Hackney branch of a fostering organisation have renewed an appeal to find adults willing to give young people shelter and support by being foster carers.
The Foster Care Associates (FCA) have put the message out to coincide with Foster Care Fortnight, from June 1 to 14 and say they are seeking individuals with “a sense of humour, a big heart and plenty of patience” to consider a move into fostering.
According to the Department of Education figures, there are more than 300 looked after children in local authority care in Hackney.
The FCA are looking for carers in Hackney and across East London for all placement groups, but particularly for those children and young people who may have what they term as ‘complex needs’.
These could range from behavioural, emotional or learning difficulties.
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They are also keen to hear from those willing to take on ‘Parent and Child’ placements, where young parents, often single mothers, and their own child could be placed with a foster family.
Maria Gabriels from FCA said: “Across East London, we need lots of new carers and are actively looking for responsible, nurturing adults who have a spare room and can give children in need of a foster home the support they need to thrive and grow.
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“There are many factors that make up an ideal candidate – everything from being adaptable, resilient and nurturing to being a good listener and flexible in response to a young person’s needs.
“Foster Care Fortnight is the ideal opportunity to meet with people and have an informal face-to-face chat to find out more about fostering. People are often surprised by how much support and training is available and this is a key driver for many people coming forward and becoming a foster carer with FCA.”
A spokesperson for FCA added: “The most important thing for us is to get the initial contact, and then we can discuss in greater detail on a one-to-one basis which placement group might suit the potential carers, as each placement is individually tailored to the skills and background of the potential foster family.”
