Staffordshire County Council has received fostering-friendly accreditation by the Fostering Network due to its support for employees who balance work with fostering.
The council has given employees who foster more flexibility in working patterns, along with access to paid time off for assessments, training and when settling young people into their new home. It introduced these initiatives as part of its drive to recruit more carers.
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, helping them to balance work responsibilities with looking after children.
Examples of such support employers 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.
Mark Sutton, cabinet member for children and young people at Staffordshire County Council, said: “It’s an important step in making fostering more attractive and encouraging more families to consider joining the team. Allowing people to work flexibly and providing time off for meetings, assessments and supporting the young people when they need it will all make a difference.
“I would encourage other organisations and businesses to become a fostering friendly company and to get in touch with the Fostering Network to join the growing number of fostering-friendly employers.”