FtSE Member News: Team Fostering - Agency seeks new foster carers

A fostering agency is looking to recruit up to 500 foster carers in the East Midlands.

Team Fostering says it has seen an increasing number of children and young people entering the care system.

The agency will host an event in Mansfield on July 16 to encourage more foster carers to come forward.

Helen McBride, a foster carer from Ravenshead, will speak at the event.

She said: "Fostering was something we always wanted to do. There will be ups and downs and there will be challenges ahead but I would urge people to explore the idea and gain opinion from people like me who have done it."

Team Fostering matches foster carers to children seeking new homes through local authorities for short stay or longer term care.

Foster carers can come from any background but need experience of working with youngsters as a parent, guardian or in voluntary or paid work. The agency pays a generous fee because it asks that the main foster carer does not work.

Walter Young, Team Fostering director, said: "There's a large number of children, mostly aged between 10 and 15 and often with complex needs, who need family placements and we require a wide and diverse group of foster carers in the East Midlands to support these children.

"We also need people who can consider offering a home to siblings, so that they don't need to be separated just because they come into the fostering services."

Team Fostering's recruitment event will take place at St Peter's Centre in Churchside at 6pm on July 16. It is one of a series of events being held in and around Nottingham.

For more information, visit www.teamfostering.co.uk or call 01623 339338.

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Source: 
http://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/regional/agency-seeks-new-foster-carers-1-6179654

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