Fostering charity Tact reports seeing a three-fold rise in millennials applying to become foster carers in 2020
We tend to think of foster carers as older people, who likely already have grown up children – and indeed the majority (65 per cent) in England are over the age of 50. But a wave of people in their twenties and thirties are choosing to foster youngsters. Tact, the UK’s largest fostering charity, reports that they have seen a three-fold rise in millennials applying to become foster carers in 2020. It’s hoped the trend may help alleviate the foster carer shortage – a child comes in to care every 20 minutes in the UK and there are more than 8,500 carers desperately needed nationwide to meet this demand. Family breakdowns have increased the need for foster carers by nearly a third during the Covid pandemic, charity Barnardo’s has warned. Bryleigh Flack, 23, has been fostering a teenage girl for four months with her partner Grace Pascall, 24. Bryleigh grew up in a household with looked-after children – her mother and a very good family friend have taken in around 250 youngsters. Grace got a taste of fostering living at Bryleigh’s mother’s for a year and when they moved into their own place last year, they were keen to do it themselves. “I’ve been really involved in it my whole life and I was a back-up carer for the children,” said Bryleigh. “When I got my own place it was like, ‘Oh my gosh, there’s no screaming kids around’. It felt strange.” Bryleigh believes her and Grace’s youth is an advantage. “I think because we’re young it’s a lot easier for children to relate to us. I think they feel at home quite quickly. We have boundaries and discipline and we also remember what it was like to be 13.” Bryleigh says people have been surprised at her decision to become a foster carer at just 22. “I think a lot of people are like, ‘Oh, my God, why would you do that so young’,” she said. “I can’t be out partying all night but I’m not bothered. I don’t feel like I’m missing out.” Bryleigh says people have been surprised at her decision to become a foster carer at just 22. “I think a lot of people are like, ‘Oh, my God, why would you do that so young’.” But she said she doesn’t feel like she’s missing out. “When you grow up around fostering, it becomes part of your life, your identity and your future.” Instead she focusses on the rewards. “Many children require a lot of care and attention to work through past traumas. And that’s the most rewarding job you could ever have. If you can show a child routine and stability, their behaviors can shift so quickly. “It’s so rewarding to see them feeling safe. Even little things like them going to get something out the fridge without asking you, then you know they feel at home.” ‘Some don’t want to accept love’ But of course things may not run so smoothly. Many foster children exhibit behavioral issues. Bryleigh, who lives in south London, said youngsters placed with her family have pulled doors off hinges, thrown objects and caused damage, and run away. “They will push your boundaries to see how much you’re devoted to them, because all they know is loss,” she said. “When they come to you, they are expecting the worst, to leave, to not be permanent and for you to give up – because they’ve had so many temporary people in their life. As children they have been through more than most adults have ever been through. “They may go against simple things that you’re asking them to do, because they’ve never had structure and routine before. That might be bedtime and mobile phone times. Lots of these kids have been able to do what they want for many years. You definitely pick your battles. “A lot of children haven’t been given basic level of care, like having been taught self hygiene, so that’s your role. But also, many have been fending for themselves since being toddlers and getting themselves to school from a young age. So it’s important to not micromanage the children either because all of a sudden, they come to you and you’re trying to tell them how to do things. “It’s about gaining their trust and working with them and showing them that you’re resilient. You can’t take things personally and you can’t give up.” Bryleigh says some children have their defences up while others attach too quickly. “Some don’t want to accept love, affection and praise because they’ve never experienced that and it’s like an alien thing to them. “Then you have children on the other spectrum who are really affectionate, but in the wrong ways – through no fault of their own – which makes them vulnerable to sexual exploitation. So again, because they’ve never had love, they crave it and seek it in the wrong places. Some are attention seeking. You are sort of faced with so many different behaviours that are unique to each child.” Being a foster family brings a “different dynamic”, says Bryleigh. “Although the children are part of your family, the way you do things can be really different. You have to be really mindful of your ways of handling things. For instance, if you have a child who has grown up with parents who have abused alcohol or drugs, having a family gathering or party where people are consuming alcohol might be triggering for them. So you have to really take into consideration their past traumas in every single situation and be sensitive to that.” Bryleigh says she got a lot of support through charity The Fostering Network and her local authority. “Meeting up with other foster carers has been a godsend,” she said. Fostering ‘is life changing’ Bryleigh said her placement has “never been able to be a child”, something you wants to allow her the space to be. Lockdown has presented challenges, but she and Grace have adapted and their foster child is settling in well. “She’s settled in a short space of time and really feels at home, it’s great to see her doing well at school and getting involved in out of school activities. “It’s been strange during lockdown with the world shut down when it’s been difficult to keep children entertained. But it made us realise we don’t always have to go out and spend money. It’s brought us back down to basics. “We’ve been baking and going for walks and done some DIY on the house and done a few treasure hunts. We got a dog in lockdown, which helped teach our young one a bit of routine and responsibility. “We went to an Airbnb on a farm and had a family holiday to the Cotswolds during Easter. She just was so receptive and open to try new things and it’s a great feeling to be able to give them opportunities that they haven’t had before. “I hope this is a long-term placement and I want her to be able to look back and think that they really set me up to to be where I am. I’ll do anything to be able to help young people placed with us to be successful in life because they deserve that.” Bryleigh urged any young person considering fostering to not feel like their age is a barrier. “I think a lot of people don’t realise that they can foster from 21. Obviously, it is a big commitment. And it is life changing. If you’re prepared for that, then go for it.” Source: https://inews.co.uk Member Job Opportunity: Team Fostering - Independent Panel Chair (Yorkshire and Humber Region)21/6/2021
Base: Unit 3 & 4 Shepcote Office Village Shepcote Lane Sheffield S9 1TG Hours: Variable Monthly (depending on Panel Business) Responsible to: Assistant Director Pay: £401.53 per panel plus expenses Team Fostering is an ethical not for profit fostering agency with a strong reputation and proven track record for providing high quality, value for money fostering placements for looked after children. We pride ourselves on our values and we expect our staff to commit to and demonstrate these values in their everyday work.
An exciting opportunity has arisen within Team Fostering to appoint an Independent Chair for the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Fostering Panel. As an Independent Chair you will be responsible for contributing to the provision of a first class fostering service for children through the effective chairing of Fostering Panel meetings. Drawing on any relevant knowledge, experience and skills you will be required to ensure that all items of business are covered and that the monthly panel operates efficiently in accordance with fostering regulations and the policies and procedures of the agency. A sound knowledge of fostering and the regulatory framework and standards surrounding it as well as evidence of a commitment to achieving positive outcomes for children are all essential qualities we are seeking for this post. You will also be required to contribute to the continuous development of the agency through working effectively with the Agency Panel Adviser, the Agency Decision Maker and other Senior Managers. A formal induction programme is provided for the successful candidate as a requirement of this post. For an informal discussion please contact Sandra Kennedy, Assistant Director on 07717 762125 or by email on sandra.kennedy@teamfostering.co.uk To apply, please complete an Application Form and Equal Opportunities Form (available below) and return to hr@teamfostering.co.uk no later than 9am on Monday 28 June. Please note Team Fostering does not accept CV’s. Full details and application documents here Location: Surrey/Sussex, Kent and South London (home-based) Salary: £39,424 p.a. [Salary: £33, 561 p.a. + £3,613 p.a. London Weighting (if living in a London borough) + £1,500 p.a. Out of Hours Allowance + £750 p.a. Homeworking allowance] Hours: Full Time - Permanent (35 hours per week) Closing Date: 30/06/2021 Interview Date: 08/07/2021 Hours: 35 hour per week TACT, the UK’s largest on-for-profit fostering charity with over 500 dedicated carers, who look after over 600 children and young people across the Great Britain. Our reputation and growth rests upon our strength in providing successful placements.
Have a look at our history. As a charity, we do not have shareholders who receive profits, and we invest all of our surplus income into service, staff, carers, and children’s development. Our vision is to provide better lives for our children and young people. Find out more about our values here. You will be joining us a Senior Supervising Social Worker. This role gives the opportunity to get involved in:
This role also gives the opportunity to attend training to enhance your knowledge and skills for your personal development. You will have a caseload of approximately 12 families, and you will be part of a team covering Surrey / Sussex, Kent and South London. TACT is a homeworking organisation that supplies their employees with excellent IT equipment and software, so you can maximise your efficiency and impact. Homeworking also allows great flexibility alligned with TACT's policies and culture. As an employee, you will enjoy a supportive organisational culture, where you are valued and encouraged to reach your full potential. We have a dedicated Learning & Development Manager with a Social Work background, who will support all your training needs. TACT's Benefits:
TACT has been distinguished as one of the best companies to work for in the sector and holds important accreditations. Please note that we will require an Enhanced DBS Check for this role and Social Work England registration. Face-to face visits to foster carers will be required once is safe to do so. Please see the Job Description and the Applicant Information Staff Benefits booklet for more information. Closing date: Wednesday, 30th June 2021 Interviews: Thursday, 8th July 2021 Safeguarding is everyone’s business and TACT believe that only the people with the right skills and values should work in social work. As part of TACT’s commitment to safeguarding, we properly examine the skills, experience, qualifications and values of potential staff in relation to our work with vulnerable young children. We use rigorous and consistent recruitment approaches to help safeguard TACT’s young people. All our staff are expected to work in line with TACT’s safeguarding policies. TACT does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them. TACT reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so we advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment. Full details and application documents here Location: Lincolnshire Leaving Care Service – Lincoln Contract type: Permanent Hours: 22.5 Salary: £26,966 - £37,414 FTE Closing Date: 16 July 2021 Interview Date: 29th July 2021 Barnardo's works in partnership with Lincolnshire County Council to deliver its Leaving Care Service for young people aged 16-25.
Our last OFSTED inspection achieved an ‘Outstanding' grade for the service we provide to Children in Care and Care Leavers. We are currently looking to recruit a Team Manager who will be based at our Lincoln office this post is to work 3 days / week (22.5 hours) There is an expectation that Team Managers will be required to travel across the region and where the service need requires. You will be joining an established management team who will be able to offer peer support and mentoring. Initial Specific Responsibilities Barnardo's have been delivering the Leaving Care Contract on behalf of Lincolnshire County Council for a number of years and following a successful re-commissioning Barnardo's will continue working in partnership with the County Council. Within service we not only have dedicated Leaving Care Workers we also have developed specialist services in relation to developing accommodation and supported lodgings specialists alongside workers helping with education, employment and training. We also have a dedicated senior project worker who leads on group participation, quality assurance and signs of safety across the service and we have some exciting developments in relation to creating a new jointly commissioned specialist mental health post and the joint development of a new housing scheme for Care Leavers. It's an exciting time to join the service as we extend our provision for 16-25 year old Care Leavers. We're looking for candidates with drive and determination who understands about working with looked after children and care leavers. Supplementary Information
Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore are open to offering flexible working arrangements. When completing your application please refer to your skills knowledge and experience in relation to the Person Specification, Job Description and Additional Information document (if applicable). This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described. About Barnardo's At Barnardo's we believe in children – no matter who they are, what they have done or what they have been through. Please read about our basis and values following the link below. You will be asked questions relating to them as part of the recruitment process for this role. Barnardo's is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce for staff and volunteers. We actively encourage applications from disabled, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic and male candidates as they are under-represented within Barnardo's. Full details and application documents here Location: Barnardo's Parenting Capacity Assessment Service (PCAS), Lennoxtown Contract type: Permanent Hours: 37.00 Salary: Starting Salary Circa - £27,814 - £33,358 Closing Date: 21 June 2021 Interview Date: tbc Barnardo's, East Dunbartonshire/Greater Glasgow
The Parenting Capacity Assessment Service will work across the whole of the East Dunbartonshire local authority area. The Service has developed an assessment framework that is applied over a 16 week period with the purpose of assisting the social work department in long term decision making for children, where there is a significant concern regarding the parents capacity to meet the child's/children's needs. We are looking to recruit a Project Worker with the following criteria to join our service:
Please see the attached role profile and additional information sheet . For an informal chat about this post, please contact Daljeet Dagon on 0141 243 2393. Please note application packs are NOT available on this number. They must be completed on the website. At Barnardo's we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and we expect all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. Our safer recruitment processes mean that the safety and welfare of the child is paramount at every stage of the process and therefore, we adopt rigorous scrutiny in our pre-employment checking. This post is subject to a range of pre-employment checks including a Criminal Records Enhanced Disclosure for the successful candidate. About Barnardo's At Barnardo's we believe in children – no matter who they are, what they have done or what they have been through. Please read about our basis and values following the link below. You will be asked questions relating to them as part of the recruitment process for this role. Barnardo's is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce for staff and volunteers. We actively encourage applications from disabled, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic and male candidates as they are under-represented within Barnardo's. Our basis and values Full details and application documents here Location: Barnardo's Fostering & Adoption Wales Contract type: Permanent Hours: 37 Salary: £28,631 - £37,414 Closing Date: 20 June 2021 Interview Date: 2nd July 2021 Barnardo's Cymru Fostering Service has an exciting vacancy for a qualified and registered Social Worker to join its Fostering Service. You will be joining a team who embraces working in a creative, open and transparent manner with foster parents to provide children with placements in which they can thrive.
As a Social Worker you have the chance to make a real difference in the lives of Children, Young People and Families by:
Along with a Social Work qualification, you will have a passion and drive to make a positive difference to children and foster parents. The applicant will need to be able to participate in a "helpline" rota Out of Office hours. There is additional remuneration for providing this service. The duties of this post require the applicant to have a full current driving license that enables them to drive in the UK and have use of a car and business use insurance. Barnardo's is, however, willing to consider any proposals put forward by applicants that would allow them to do the job by other means. When completing your application please refer to your skills knowledge and experience in relation to the Person Specification, Job Description and Additional Information document (if applicable). This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described. Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work life balance we therefore offer flexible working arrangements as the role involves some evening/weekend working and travel with occasional overnight stays. This is a home-based position with regular travel and all geographical areas within Wales (and bordering Wales) will be considered. About Barnardo's At Barnardo's we believe in children – no matter who they are, what they have done or what they have been through. Please read about our basis and values following the link below. You will be asked questions relating to them as part of the recruitment process for this role. Barnardo's is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce for staff and volunteers. We actively encourage applications from disabled, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic and male candidates as they are under-represented within Barnardo's. Our basis and values Full details and application documents here TACT – the UK’s leading fostering charity, has joined cross-sector organisations, business leaders, unions and young people in urging the Government to reconsider its pandemic recovery measures for children and young people, asking them to urgently boost investment. In two separate letters to the Prime Minister, coordinated by Fair Education Alliance and the National Children’s Bureau, and signed by over 240 leaders from across business, education and the charity sectors, campaigners have again urged the Government to invest in their stated intention of levelling up and show real ambition for the recovery for children and young people. While researchers estimate that £13.5bn is needed to help children recover from a year of disruption, isolation and anxiety, the Chancellor has committed to spend only one tenth of this amount. TACT CEO said:” “TACT is concerned to see that the Government’s much vaunted commitment to levelling up seems to have abruptly levelled off”. The campaign insists the pandemic has deepened the existing crisis in funding for the education of disadvantaged children. Alongside extra money for schools to spend on staff development and interventions for pupils, a wider investment in measures to address the impact of Covid-19 on children and young people, such as reversing rising child poverty, reducing waiting times for mental health help for children and young people, and investing in the services that protect children from abuse and neglect, is urgently needed. TACT is pleased to be among the experts calling for the Government to set out a new and ambitious vision of childhood and education to support children, young people and their families to recover from the impact of COVID-19, with #ChildrenAtTheHeart. Source: www.tactcare.org.uk Barnardo’s Chief Executive Javed Khan has been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Queen's Birthday Honours for services to young people and to education. Javed said: “I’m delighted and incredibly humbled to receive this Honour. “Growing up in inner city Birmingham in the 1960s and 70s, with Kashmiri immigrant parents who couldn’t read or write in any language, I never dreamt this would be possible for someone like me. “At Barnardo’s we passionately believe that incredible things can happen when you believe in children, whatever their background. My family didn’t have much when I was growing up, but they gave me the love, care and hope that set me on the path to where I am today. “As Chief Executive of the UK’s leading children’s charity, it is my mission to help deliver that love, care and hope to the vulnerable children and young people across the UK who need it most. This Honour is a testament to the work of this incredible charity, and to every colleague, volunteer and supporter who goes above and beyond, every single day to make sure children and families can achieve the positive future they deserve.” Source: https://www.barnardos.org.uk Fostering News: Lemn Sissay urges chidren in care to ‘reach for the stars' as he is made OBE11/6/2021
Lemn Sissay urged people who have grown up in the care system to “reach for the stars” as he was made an OBE. The poet and playwright was honoured for services to literature and charity in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. Sissay detailed his experiences in the British care system in his autobiography of his early life, My Name Is Why, and shared the abuse he suffered over 18 years as a child in the one-off show The Report at the Royal Court. The writer, who was the official poet of the 2012 London Olympics and in 2019 won the PEN Pinter Prize, told the PA news agency: “I’m chuffed to bits. If I could say to my 17-year-old self or my 25-year-old self, in 2021 you will receive an OBE, I just would not believe it. “I do the work that I do as best as I can. I wish I was a better writer. I wish I could do more in particular areas and then it’s like somebody tapping you on the shoulder and saying, ‘just keep going, just keep doing what you’re doing’. “Because you can’t be an activist if all you’re bothered about is who’s looking at you, if you’re bothered about the impression you’re giving, you’ve got to get on. “For anybody who thinks that that for all kinds of reasons, I shouldn’t accept this honour, just walk a mile in my shoes, be the child that I was, go through the journey that I’ve been through in my life. And then you tell that child who’s become a man that they shouldn’t accept an honour, which honours who they are, where they are. “Success to me is being able to look in the mirror in the morning and know that I’m OK. Success to me is being able to treat the people that are close to me kindly, and for them to treat me kindly. “Those are the parameters of success and they have been all my life, I don’t have a family who are going to call me and say ‘well done’, and I’ve never had one. “So, my parameters of understanding of what successes are actually about the people around me and also about how I feel about my self without, wanting to be too self centred, as well.” Sissay released his first book of poetry when he was 21 and in 1995 made a BBC documentary, Internal Flight, about his life. His one-man show Something Dark detailed how as a baby he was given up by his Ethiopian mother in the 1960s and renamed Norman Greenwood, only finding out his real name at the age of 18. The drama was adapted for BBC Radio 3 in 2006, winning the UK Commission for Racial Equality’s Race in the Media Award (RIMA). Asked what he would say to young people in care today, he said: “I would say to the young person who’s in care, you’re gonna be okay. Be kind to yourself, be good to yourself, you’re going to be okay. “I guess I would also say, reach for the top of the tree, and you might get to the first branch, but reach for the stars, and you might get to the top of the tree. “I’ve always reached for stars, they are my poems, the blank page is like the universe to me and finding stars is like writing a poem and being able to build a constellation or be part of a constellation, that is the challenge of every day.” He continued: “Celebrating ourselves and celebrating each other, that’s the one of the things that that is missing in the care system. “I don’t want to be down on it because I know a lot of people from it but I do want to say that celebrating the existence of young people in care is a wonderful thing. “Harry Potter was a foster child, Superman was also fostered, Jane Eyre, Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights. We can celebrate the nature of children and care inside popular culture inside literature, but also as our next door neighbours.” Sissay was previously made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2010 New Year Honours. Source: www.irishnews.com Circa: £34,000 + inner London weighting (£3333) + £700 p.a on call allowance Location: London, City of London Department/Division: EDD03 Contract Type: Permanent Full Time Closing Date: 23 June 2021 Giving children and young people the foundations they need to thrive.
The role Action for Children Fostering South East, is one service, based on two sites. Our London office is in central London (WC2B 5DG). We also have a Kent service based in Ramsgate. We have foster carers in various and widespread areas of London and Kent. We are not a large service, but we are long established, and have committed, skilled and experienced foster carers who are able to provide stable, nurturing family homes for children and young people who for various reasons aren't able to be cared for in their birth families. Our children, young people and carers are supported and by a very experienced and skilled staff team. One of the strengths that our foster carers often comment on is that our service has a ‘family' feel to it. We are looking for an outstanding Fostering Social Worker who can support placements in the London and surrounding area, so flexibility to travel across this cluster as and when needed is imperative for this role. You will also have the opportunity to assess applicants to foster. During Covid times, we support agile / homeworking with the expectation to progress back into our office base in WC2B 5DG, when we can, with continued flexibility and a mix of home, office and travel to meet children and carers where they are. You will make a difference by:
You will need:
The way we work We work to make sure every child and young person has the love, support and opportunity they need to reach their potential. If you share the same vision, we want you to join our team. Have a look at our behaviours and values to understand more about the way we work here. Rewards We want our employees to feel valued and rewarded for the vital work they do. When you work with us, we'll recognise your efforts with generous annual leave, a comprehensive employer-matched pension scheme and a range of deals and discounts on our dedicated benefits portal. Find out more about our exclusive Action for Children benefits here. For safe and happy childhoods At Action for Children, we protect and support children and young people, providing practical and emotional care and support, ensuring their voices are heard, and campaigning to bring lasting improvements to their lives. Last year, we helped more than 387,000 children and families across the UK. For any further questions about this role, please contact Lynsey.Munro@actionforchildren.org.uk in our recruitment team. It's vital for our services to be able to recruit and support adopters / Foster carers from a diverse range of backgrounds to reflect the children who need families. We therefore actively seek to replicate that diversity in our staff, and we positively welcome the wide breadth of experience, knowledge and understanding that this will bring to our services. Action for Children is passionate about promoting equality, valuing diversity and working inclusively. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons particularly people with Disabilities and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic applicants, as these groups are currently under-represented in our workforce. We are committed to safer recruitment practices to protect our service users; therefore, all applicants are expected to have an understanding of and commitment to safeguarding best-practice. Full details and application documents here |
News & JobsNews stories and job vacancies from our member agencies, the fostering sector and the world of child protection and safeguarding as a whole. Browse Categories
All
|