10 May 2012
The campaign, which coincides with the UK’s national foster carers fortnight, will run from 14 to 28 May 2012. It will focus around a “drop in” centre based at 62 Halkett Place – a free facility kindly donated by a local shop owner following a media appeal earlier this year.
The campaign will provide an opportunity to raise awareness of 2 new special funding streams being made available to existing and new carers. The new ‘payment for skills’ scheme will provide payments to carers in recognition of their skills and experience. The ‘specialist fostering’ scheme will, in particular circumstances, provide carers with the financial means so that they can provide full time care to some of the Island’s most needy children, without the need to juggle other work.
Emmy Lindsey, Manager for the Fostering and Adoption Team, said: “We are very fortunate in Jersey to have many wonderful foster and adoptive parents but there is still a real need for more people to come forward. We want to be able to offer the right placement for the children who come into our care.”
“Special payments will help us do this. For years foster care in Jersey has been purely altruistic and people have given their time and skills on a voluntary basis. Whilst that is great it has meant that some people, who would make ideal foster carers, have simply been unable to afford to get involved. Now we will be able to recruit prospective carers who want to consider fostering as a career.”
“The Fostering and Adoption Team will provide support, supervision and training for all foster carers. We will help foster carers develop particular skills and abilities to look after children and young people with challenging behaviours and complex needs. As well as fostering allowances, under the new scheme we will be able to pay carers for their skills and provide more extensive support packages to ensure that foster carers are fully supported as a member of staff would be.
The drop in centre at 62 Halkett place (opposite Pizza Express) is open Monday 14 May to Saturday 26 May from 10am until 4pm (excluding Sunday 20 May). A Portuguese interpreter will be available for Portuguese speaking people with an interest in fostering from Monday 21 May to Friday 28 May daily from 3pm to 4pm.
Can you make space in your life for a child? (caring and support section)
gov.je