Foster Wales Rhondda Cynon Taf has launched an improved financial and support package for “Support Carers” who foster on a part-time basis.
The council said children in care and those at risk of entering care need safe adults who can help for short breaks, sleepovers and emergencies, not only on a full-time or long-term basis. Support care is intended to offer flexible help to families on the edge of care, children who need extra support because of limiting conditions or disabilities, and fostering, kinship and adoptive families seeking greater stability.
Support carers may step in so other foster carers can attend training or planned events, help in emergencies such as a medical emergency, offer regular breaks alongside full-time foster or adoptive families, support families of children with disabilities and additional needs with regular weekends of help, and provide respite and emotional support where children may be at risk of needing care.
Shan and Steff Roberts, Foster Wales RCT foster carers, said: “Over the last few months we have been able to provide lots of support for other foster families across RCT and it has been lovely to meet and build relationships with the children and foster carers.
“We are pleased to be able to part of a wider circle of support for everyone involved. We have 2 birth children, aged 41 and 40 – the youngest and his wife fostered for seven years, of which we played a big part.
“We provide regular short breaks anything from a night up to two weeks to the same children, but also as and when needed. Lots of children ask to come back to us. We have also done emergency care.”
Councillor Gareth Caple, Cabinet Member for Social Care, said: “Support care allows people to foster on a short-term flexible basis and gives foster families the opportunity to have additional support from a foster carer when they need it.
“This includes support for families in our RCT communities on the edge of care, children in need of support due to their disabilities and supporting stability within fostering families.
“Fostering families might need someone to step in and care for their foster children when they need to go to a funeral, attend training, go on work trips or planned holidays and I’m sure there are lots of people in RCT who would love to help them”.
Director of Childrens Services Annabel Lloyd said: “Here in RCT, we will do everything we can to support foster families who give so much, day after day.
“Our foster carers provide remarkable care and stability for children and young people. Additional support can make a real difference in sustaining the life-changing and essential care that foster families provide.
“Becoming a support foster carer is ideal for people who want to foster but may not be able to commit full-time, perhaps because they work or have caring responsibilities of their own.
“By becoming a support foster carer, you can play a vital role in the team around the child, providing valuable assistance to foster families in a way that fits with your life as it is now”.
Foster Wales RCT is inviting people who could look after a child or sibling group for a weekend each month or during school holidays, or be on call for a day or a week when needed, to get in touch. The team can be met at the RCT Jobs Fair at Llys Cadwyn, Pontypridd, on Thursday 15 October from 10am to 2pm; at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Talbot Green, on Wednesday 21 October from 9.30am to 12.30pm; at a family fun day at Llantrisant Leisure Centre on Thursday 29 October from 10am to 2pm; and at Halloween at the Royal Mint Experience on Saturday 31 October from 10am to 3pm.
