Issue - meetings

To consider a report by Councillor Julie Matthews, Lead Member for Corporate Strategy, Policy and Equalities (copy enclosed) seeking Cabinet approval to adopt the Foster Friendly Policy.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)      approve and adopt the Foster Friendly Policy, and

(b)      confirms that it has read, understood and taken account of the Wellbeing Impact Assessment (Appendix 2 to the report) as part of its consideration.

Councillor Julie Matthews presented the report seeking Cabinet approval to adopt the Foster Friendly Policy.

The policy demonstrated that the Council valued the contribution foster carers made to society and lives of the children cared for.  It recognised the additional commitment and demands of caring for children looked after by providing additional special leave for staff who were foster carers and those in the process of an assessment.  The Wellbeing Impact Assessment highlighted how the policy would assist in recruitment and retention of foster carers to help secure children looked after within their own communities and ensure they retained strong links with families, friends, and school.  The policy had been agreed by the Corporate Executive Team, Trade Unions and the Joint Consultative Committee for Health and Safety and Employee Relations.

The Head of Children’s Services added that the policy was an important addition to the core offer to foster carers and would raise further awareness and encourage staff to come forward to support children locally.  Increasing the number of inhouse foster carers was a priority and the policy would support the process and provide time off for staff to undertake the necessary training and meetings required.

The following points were raised during the ensuing debate –

·       detailed the stages involved in the process of becoming a foster carer and it was at the assessment stage that potential foster carers would require time off work to undertake that process, particularly to undergo the three day training required

·       the policy would also be another means of publicising that the Council was a foster friendly authority and provided another opportunity to raise awareness

·       elaborated further on the project to improve the ‘core offer’ to foster carers confirming a new Project Officer would commence in April to continue that work and identify incentives and offers across all services and promotion of the issue, particularly in schools, and further work in that regard continuing going forward

·       there were currently around 45 fostering households in the county and the aim for next year was to secure 10 new households which would make a significant difference; 3 out of the 8 couples who attended the last recruitment training session worked for the council and had to take leave to attend the session

·       legally you could be a foster carer for one provider and not multiple providers

·       the employee’s line manager would approve the leave on a discretionary basis which was in line with all other time off work requests and assurances were provided that the assumption was that leave would be given unless there were exceptional circumstances and would be closely monitored.

Cabinet welcomed the policy as a positive means of encouraging and supporting existing and potential foster carers through the fostering process and ongoing responsibilities.  Tribute was paid to the valued role of foster carers and benefits to children and young people, and the Council’s commitment to providing the necessary support to increase the number of inhouse foster carers was reiterated.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)      approve and adopt the Foster Friendly Policy, and

(b)      confirms that it has read, understood and taken account of the Wellbeing Impact Assessment (Appendix 2 to the report) as part of its consideration.