Norfolk celebrates its foster carers as Foster Care Fortnight gets underway

Added: 15/05/2008
Category: Norfolk County Council

Children and foster carers shared their stories and successes as Norfolk County Council hosted its eighth annual foster carers picnic last weekend (May 10).

The event is aimed at celebrating the vital role of foster carers and was held ahead of Foster Care Fortnight, which runs from May 12 to May 25.

This was the eighth annual Foster Carers Picnic organised by Norfolk County Council, with more than 500 carers and children in attendance at the event at Gressenhall Farm and Workshop.

Children were also able to tour the museum and grounds and enjoy a cart ride around the farm. There was also the chance to sample traditional farmhouse recipes and take part in a range of art activities in the workshop.

Rosalie Monbiot, Norfolk County Council Cabinet Member for Children's Services, said: “Our foster carers providing loving and supportive homes for hundreds of Norfolk's children and young people and this picnic gives us a real chance to say thank you.

“Foster carers play a vital role in supporting some of the county's most vulnerable children and we are enormously grateful for the care they give. Their role can be extremely rewarding and can really help to improve the life chances of the children in their care. We are always looking for more people to take on this crucial role so would urge anyone who is interested to contact us.”

As part of Foster Care Fortnight, Norfolk County Council is looking to find new foster carers, particularly for sibling groups and teenagers.

Kevin Daniells, Family Placement Social Worker for Norfolk County Council, said: “Foster Care Fortnight gives us a real opportunity to highlight the crucial role played by our foster carers. They provide caring homes and much needed security for children and young people who have faced considerable difficulties in their lives.

“We really do need more of these special people, particularly those with the specialist skills to care for teenagers, and we would urge anyone who feels they have the commitment and determination to make a difference, to get in touch with us.”

Benefits offered to the Council's foster carers include:

- 24 hour support line

- Improved insurance scheme

- Advice and mediation worker

- Rise in allowances linked to inflation

- Membership of the national Fostering Network including Norfolk Foster Care.

Foster carers receive allowances based on the number and age of the children, and the experience and skill-level of the carer. Support, training and supervision is given.

People can opt for different types of foster care, including looking after children in long-term or short-term placements. There is also a specialist foster care team, with carers supporting children and young people with very high levels of need. This is regarded as a full-time job and carers are paid the equivalent of a salary.

Short break carers provide respite care, looking after children and young people with disabilities to give them a change of scene, and their families a break from caring. It can be for the occasional day or weekend, or on a regular basis.

Carers can be:

- married, unmarried, single, gay, in a relationship, divorced or widowed

- employed or unemployed

- home owners or in rented accommodation

- from all ethnic communities in Norfolk.

For your Fostering Norfolk's Future information pack, and to find out more about fostering, call the Norfolk Fostering freephone helpline 0800 005 007 or email fostering.socs@norfolk.go.uk, or go to www.norfolk.gov.uk.