Portsmouth businesses: Join the call and sign up to be a Fair Ways Fostering Friendly Employer today
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A new challenge has been set to get even more Portsmouth businesses to pledge to be Fostering Friendly Employers.
More than 75 organisations have already signed up to the campaign – but now they’ve raised the bar to 100 and beyond.
The campaign, run by children’s services charity Fair Ways, hopes to raise awareness of fostering and the need to balance work with this vital support for young people.
Managing Director, Gareth Webb, shared what this latest milestone meant for Fair Ways, for foster carers, and most importantly, for the children who need this support.
Every 15 minutes a child comes into the care system. We have got a national crisis and a shortage of over 5,000 foster carers – we need more foster carers
If your business hasn’t signed up yet - now’s the time. Be part of something special and help make it to 100.
What is a foster friendly employer?
Becoming a Fostering Friendly Employer is easier than you think but can make a huge difference to changing young lives in your local community.
Fair Ways is not trying to poach staff to become foster carers but wants to encourage employers to facilitate a co-working balance. The only additional commitment for foster carers and their employers is that they may need to attend reviews on five days throughout a whole year.
There is no cost involved, only a little flexibility to give employees the same help that working parents receive – which would make such a difference to young people who need foster care
Becoming a foster carer can be the same level of responsibility of having your own child and include a similar pattern, such as school runs or getting a school taxi service collection – which is paid for, as part of the fostering service.
Gareth said: “We are looking to make Portsmouth known for supporting fostering and enabling local people to look after young people in care. We have committed to helping as many local companies as possible become Fostering Friendly Employers and will give our support to make that happen.”
Fair Ways families make a difference
The support of fostering in a family home can have a more successful outcome than being placed in a residential children’s home - and becoming a foster carer can also have a very positive impact on the lives of carers too.
Choosing an agency to foster with is one of the most important points to consider when starting your fostering journey. Fair Ways is your there to help you every step of the way.
Fair Ways Fostering service is rated as “Good” by Ofsted. The charity is recognised for the high levels of support it offers to its foster carers and the young people in its care.
Sign up now
Fair Ways can help employers write their fostering friendly policy. They will work with them throughout the journey to enable workers to become foster carers, while continuing their day-to-day work roles.
Find out more here
For more information about becoming a foster carer, visit the website.