A new recruitment hub called Foster4 has been launched in the Northwest to help recruit foster carers in Cheshire and Merseyside. The collaboration is made between eight Local Authorities, including Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East, Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Warrington, and Wirral. Approximately, 4600 children are in need of foster care in the area, however, only 1150 approved foster carers are available, which means that there is an urgent need to recruit more carers to take care of the vulnerable children in society.
To address the issue of low foster carers, the government has set aside £36 million to invest in the recruitment of foster parents across the UK. Foster4 is supported by the Department of Education and is the first point of contact for those interested in fostering. The fostering hub aims to work collaboratively with local authorities to answer questions and provide support throughout the application process.
Foster4 also runs a mentorship scheme that links prospective foster carers with experienced foster carers in their respective communities. The mentorship provides further guidance and support to applicants during their assessment journey. Foster4 has signed up to the Fostering Network’s Mockingbird program, a fostering model that sets up constellations of fostering households, structured around the support and relationships that the households provide. These constellations, made up of six to ten families, act as an extended family for activities such as lunch, sleepovers, and days out with other like-minded families.
Amanda Perraton, Director of Children’s Services at Warrington Borough Council and Chair of Foster4 Board, commented on the launch, stating that foster carer statistics have been declining across the UK for years, leading to the need to encourage more people to foster. The launch of Foster4 promotes the diversity and eligibility of individuals to foster and provide children with a safe and loving home in the Cheshire and Merseyside region. With this new initiative, Foster4 hopes to ensure children and young people in the region receive critical support when they need it most
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