Coventry City Council has introduced a Fostering Friendly policy designed to support employees who apply to become foster carers.
Under the policy, staff who apply to become foster carers, will receive five extra days leave in order to attend necessary meetings, home visits and training sessions as part of the assessment process
If a couple works for the council, both are entitled to the additional leave in order to support one another.
Once an employee has been approved as a foster carer, they are rewarded three extra days of leave a year. Foster carers now have the same rights to request flexible working and emergency leave as working parents.
Councillor Ed Ruane, cabinet member of young children and young people at Coventry City Council, said: “As a council, we want to make sure we get caring, responsible foster carers to help give children in need a loving home.
”And as an employer, we want to make sure our staff can provide that support and still have their career and not feel stressed about having to balance work and the busy role of a foster carer.”
