Bury Council joins UK wide campaign to recruit more foster carers

Bury Council has joined over 25 local authorities across the nation to recruit more foster carers.

‘Opening Doors to Fostering’ campaign highlights how foster carers go all-out to make the festive season extra-special for the children they care for.

The annual Fostering in England statistics brings to light the pressures currently facing foster care, Bury Council is not only joining this campaign but offers extensive support and benefits for foster carers.

Councillor Lucy Smith, cabinet member for children and young people, said “Christmas can be a challenging time for young people in our care, and for our foster carers. This campaign demonstrates the amazing work our foster carers do every year, supporting children and young people throughout the festive period. Providing them with a safe place to express themselves and celebrate however they feel most comfortable over the festive period. I look forward to welcoming more new foster carers in the new year.”

Are you considering fostering in the New Year? Looking for a way to make the festive period special for children in care? Bury Fostering Team would love to hear from you, find out more below about support and benefits available.

The support package provided to Bury Foster Carers includes a Council Tax discount of 50% is one of the many rewards on offer for those who become foster carers.

Further benefits:

Adjustment Fee

Foster carers could receive a discretionary payment equivalent to the Foster Carer Professional Fee for two weeks at the end of a challenging placement, when a long-term placement comes to an unexpected end, a difficult disruption or, at a time of bereavement, to offer some time and space to carers without worrying about having no income from fostering.

Short Breaks

Foster carers will receive an annual Short Break Allowance of 7 nights for which they will be paid their fee while the child stays with a different foster carer. Carers will receive the allowance even if they do not take the short break.

Retainer Fee

This is to help carers worried about being able to financially manage if there was a gap between caring for children. It is linked to the day rate equivalent of the Professional Fee for 4 weeks maximum per year per fostering household.

PAMS Assist/Silver Cloud

This an employee benefit scheme, extended to foster carers, which covers emotional/wellbeing support as well as financial and legal advice. Carers have reported that this additional support is welcome, and cited mental health support following the pressures of the Covid pandemic as reassuring.

Max Card

The Max Card is the UK’s leading discount card for cared for and looked after children. Families can use their Max Card at venues across the UK to get free or discounted admission. Bury Council already purchases the Max card for our children and young people aged 3 years and over.

Blue Light Card

This is a discount service for the emergency services, NHS, social care sector and armed forces, providing members with thousands of discounts online and on the high street. Blue Light card holders can download an App and access a huge range of discounts for the family. This is beneficial for fostering families to get discounts on a variety of things including activities, day trips, goods, cinema visits etc. The cost of this benefit is £5, payable every three years. We will encourage our carers to apply for this themselves and claim this back from us via their expenses.

If you are interested in fostering with Bury contact:

Email: fosterwithbury@bury.gov.uk

Phone: 0800 9555 311

Visit: https://www.fosteringwithbury.co.uk/