On Thursday, 13 December, Monmouthshire County Council’s Cabinet approved a new Foster Friendly Policy.
The new policy will apply to all employees who foster directly through our Council’s Foster Wales Monmouthshire service or other Local Authorities.
Employees will have access to up to five additional days of annual leave to enable foster carers or people being assessed to become foster carers to attend relevant meetings, training, home visits or other support needs. Employees who are Special Guardians will be able to access up to 2.5 days of additional leave to enable them to attend relevant meetings, attend training or engage in activities that meet the needs of the child in their care.
Monmouthshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Social Care, Safeguarding and Accessible Health Services, Cllr Ian Chandler, said: “Foster carers can make such a massive difference to a young person’s life, and this can be at a stage where they are at their most vulnerable. This policy allows us as a council to support our employees when they become foster carers and in the first stages of welcoming a child into their home. As a council and wider community, we are responsible for supporting each other and providing the best possible start to a child’s/young person’s life. I am delighted that this policy has had the full backing of the Cabinet.
Furthermore, if you are a resident of Monmouthshire and can provide a home, please contact our team.”
