New ‘Fostering Friendly’ policy for council employees

Foster carers who work for Salford City Council are being given extra support with extra flexibility and additional leave.

The Salford Fostering Friendly policy aims to support council employees who are foster carers or being assessed to become one, and kinship carers. It will allow them to work more flexibly and paid time to attend medical, education or therapeutic appointments, urgent meetings and training linked to the children they care for while balancing their work commitments

A kinship carer is where a child who can’t be cared for by their parent(s) or another person with parental responsibility goes to live with a relative, friend, or other connected person.

Councillor Jim Cammell, Lead Member for Children’s and Young People’s Services, said: “Our foster carers make a huge positive contribution to the lives of children and young people in care. They need some flexibility in their working arrangements so they can meet the needs of their foster child or young person.

“We are committed to supporting any council employee who is a foster carer or approved kinship carer by creating a fostering friendly organisation. Wherever possible we will offer flexible working arrangements which respond to the needs of all staff who are in assessment, existing foster carers or approved kinship carers. We also encourage employers in Salford to adopt this approach so more vulnerable children and young people can be offered safe and loving homes near to their friends, schools and a life they are familiar with.”

In addition to Salford’s Fostering Friendly Policy there are a range of family friendly policies which provide other support options for foster carers.

The policy applies to all employees of Salford City Council including employees on fixed term contracts who are also foster carers, prospective carers undergoing an assessment process, and approved kinship carers.

Following discussion with their manager, foster carers and approved kinship carers may be able to take up to 11 days paid time off per 12- month period. This will be pro rata for part time staff. At times this may mean flexibility of hours rather than time off. It could include flexible working hours or remote working arrangements to support fostering commitments.

(Featured image credit: Maria Smith, Flickr)