Financial services provider Santander UK has updated its internal family leave policy and received foster-friendly accreditation as part of its support of employees who plan to apply to be foster carers.
As of this month, the bank now offers these members of staff up to 35 hours, or five days, of paid leave to attend pre-fostering appointments required as part of a fostering application. These can include introductory training courses, meetings and panel interviews.
These improvements have led to Santander receiving recognition as a foster-friendly employer by The Fostering Network. Accreditation is awarded to employers that make a difference to foster carers and the children they care for in their local communities, while improving support for their own employees, in order to help them to balance their work responsibilities with looking after children.
According to The Fostering Network, examples of related support that employers can offer include implementing a fostering-friendly HR policy for all foster carers in their employment, and offering flexible working and paid time off for training and welcoming a new child into their home.
Juan Ignacio Echeverria, chief people officer at Santander UK, said: “Good fostering is extremely important. Statistics show that outcomes for children in care are lower than their peers. We as an employer consider it vital that we do our best to support those who are managing fostering responsibilities alongside their everyday roles.
“By offering colleagues wanting to apply to be foster carers up to 35 hours of paid leave to attend pre-fostering appointments, we hope to make it easier for them to balance this important role with their day job. We are very proud to be recognised as a foster-friendly employer by The Fostering Network.”