It comes during Foster Care Fortnight, the UK’s biggest fostering recruitment drive, which features a series of drop in events taking place across the city.
Foster Families United By You will recruit “hub carers” who will bring together groups of carers to create extended foster families.
Hub carers may not have their own foster child consistently placed with them, instead they will be available every day to offer advice, training and support, organise social get togethers for other foster carers and their families in their group, and facilitate overnight respite as required.
Emma Bennett, Director of Children’s Services at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “Fostering Families United by You is a new approach for us and we’re looking for people who are interested in fostering and would like to help form an extended foster family.
“It is centred around one foster home which acts as a hub for carers offering planned and emergency respite, advice, training and support to other carers within the group. This will empower families to support each other and overcome problems before they escalate, and offer children a more positive experience of care.
“Being a foster carer for Foster Families United By You will be different but challenging.
“We’re looking for people with existing experience and interest in working with vulnerable children and young people to come forward. If you have a desire to help children and think you could either become a hub carer or a foster carer, then please get in touch and find out about the new scheme.”
Hub carers must live within 30 miles of Wolverhampton and are required to have:
- the energy, motivation and commitment to lead a group of foster carers to help shape and change the lives of children and young people
- experience of working with vulnerable children or young people
- an ability to work with other professionals and participate in a training and support programme for the scheme
- at least one spare room to provide respite care as required.
In return the council will offer an enhanced support, training and financial package.
The Fostering for Wolverhampton team are encouraging people to drop in to one of their many events being held across the city during Foster Care Fortnight. For more information, please visit Fostering events or call 01902 551133.
