FLINTSHIRE Council has pledged its support as Foster Wales has called on Welsh employers to give more support foster carers.

As families across the country struggle with the ongoing cost of living crisis, Foster Wales is calling on employers in Wales to become ‘fostering friendly’, in the hope of addressing the misconception that you cannot continue working if you become a foster carer.

As part of the Foster Care Fortnight taking place from May 15-28, local authority fostering services in Wales are calling on the wider business community to lend their support and make it easier for their employees to combine fostering and working.

Cllr Christine Jones, deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for social services and wellbeing said: “Reaching out to local employers to be fostering friendly is one of many things we are doing to support our foster carers in Flintshire. 

"To fit with life and work commitments, we also offer flexible learning opportunities for foster carers.

"This means that any training and transferrable skills from their workplace are recognised, in addition to offering a wide variety of valuable learning opportunities relevant to the children they care for, through our national Foster Wales learning and development framework."

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According to the Fostering Network, the UK’s leading fostering charity, nearly 40% of foster carers combine fostering with other work and their ‘fostering friendly’ policy encourages employers to provide flexibility and time off for employees who are prospective foster carers and are going through the application process.

The scheme also supports employees who are already foster carers, to allow time off for training, attendance at panels, to settle a new child into their home and to respond to any emergencies which may arise.

Head of Foster Wales, Alastair Cope said: “As the need for foster carers continues to grow, we need our community in Wales to step up.

We know that when children stay connected, stay local and have someone to stick by them for the long term, we see better outcomes.

"If employers in Wales can support their employees in becoming foster carers, local authorities can help more children stay connected to their roots and ultimately, support them towards better futures.”

Caroline Carding has been a Foster Carer with Foster Wales Flintshire for 13 years and has been able to fit fostering into her life and continue to work for the local authority at the same time.

She said: “I feel lucky to be employed by an organisation who is ‘Fostering Friendly’. 

"Flintshire County Council offer me the flexibility to work and also fulfil my role as a foster carer, which I have enjoyed doing for 13 years.

"Flintshire County Council offer support by allowing me 5 extra days annual leave per year which can be used for training, child emergency care and other fostering duties which may arise. It makes such a difference.”

To learn more about becoming a fostering friendly employer in Wales, visit: https://fosterwales.gov.wales/fostering-friendly-employers-in-wales/