Foster carers are still needed in Plymouth despite the Coronavirus pandemic.
The stricter lockdown measures that were introduced earlier this month to help stop the spread of the virus have not slowed us down, and we continue to assess new carers within government guidelines. Our social workers are still available to talk about all aspects of fostering both online and on the phone.
The number of children and young people in care has increased over the last 12 months and there is an on-going campaign to recruit more foster carers, who will be able to provide a local foster home for Plymouth children.
Councillor Jemima Laing Cabinet Member for Children and Young people said: “We know that dealing with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic has affected families in Plymouth and we have seen the numbers of children coming into our care increasing. That is why it is so important that we are able to recruit more foster carers to help us provide safe and loving homes.”
Fostering for Plymouth City Council also offers full training, support and the opportunity to develop therapeutic parenting skills. Plymouth Foster carers are also financially supported with an allowance. The allowance is designed to cover the daily costs of looking after the child and varies according to the age and needs of the child.
Councillor Laing added: "Fostering is a challenging role to take on but it is also extremely rewarding as you can make a real difference in a child’s life. If you feel that you are looking for a new challenge for 2021 then why not get in touch?"
Anyone wanting to find out more about becoming a foster carer can contact the Council's fostering team on 01752 308762 or visit www.fosterforplymouth.co.uk
There are many misconceptions when it comes to Fostering, so our very own Foster Carers have helped us create a short video to help dispel any concerns that people might have.