​Fostering could be just the job

As we head towards Work Life Week 2020 (12-16 October), which is an opportunity for both employers and employees to focus on wellbeing at work and work life balance and with the economy and job market in flux at the moment due to the coronavirus pandemic, now could be the perfect time to think about fostering as a career.

If your job is at risk, or the past few months has allowed you to take stock of your life and reassess what is important to you and where your life is heading, Foster with Bury would like to hear from you.

Being a foster carer is no longer seen as volunteering; it is now a professional career. Foster carers receive ongoing training during their assessment period and beyond once you’ve been approved, and payment when a child is placed with you.

This could be an ideal time for people to turn a negative life event into a positive one for both themselves and a vulnerable, looked after child in Bury borough.

Michael, a foster carer with Foster with Bury, said: “I became a foster carer after being a single dad for a number of years. It’s a very rewarding career and it gives me a great feeling to see the difference I’m making to a young child’s life. It’s the best career move I’ve made.”

In order to be eligible to foster you must be over 21 years old, be a full-time resident in the UK or have leave to remain and have a spare bedroom. Whatever your race, gender, sexuality, living arrangements, age or employment status, Foster with Bury wants to hear from you.

It doesn’t matter whether you are:

• Heterosexual or LGBT+
• Married, living with someone or single
• Living in your own home or renting
• Able-bodied or living with a disability
• Working or not
• Living with your own children or without
• Minority ethnic background
• Male or female.

Councillor Tamoor Tariq, deputy leader of Bury Council and cabinet member for children, young people and skills, said: “Our foster carers receive first-rate ongoing training and support, a fostering fee and an allowance per child. By fostering with Foster with Bury you could change your lifestyle, or your career, and do a rewarding job that really does make a difference to vulnerable looked after children in our borough.If your circumstances have changed due to the Covid-19 pandemic or you feel ready for a change of career and would like to help change children’s lives, then we’d love to hear from you.”

For further information on becoming a foster carer with Foster with Bury, please call 0800 9555 311 or visit www.fosterwithbury.co.uk, fill in our contact form and a member of the team will be in touch.

ENDS

Press release issued: 8 October 2020.