Throughout the coronavirus pandemic the need for foster carers in Nottinghamshire has remained high and Nottinghamshire County Council is appealing for anyone who is interested in fostering to come forward and find out more about the role.

By becoming a foster carer, your time is prioritised around your family and the children in your care. While some foster carers continue to work, others see fostering as their full-time role, allowing them to spend quality time with the children they care for.

Whatever your situation, if you are interested in fostering the Nottinghamshire County Council fostering team want to hear from you.

Full-time foster carer Helen decided to leave her previous job as a probation officer to become a foster carer.

She said: “I really wanted to make a difference to people’s lives and my job wasn’t fulfilling for me at the time.

“My husband was a full-time foster carer and I could see how rewarding it was and I loved being involved in fostering while I was at home. After I left my job to foster full-time, I saw the benefits straight away.

“I know I have made a difference to children’s lives, and since I started fostering I have also had two children of my own, and having other children in the house has enriched their lives too.

“The support from Nottinghamshire County Council is really good, there is always someone at the end of the phone, and the training is excellent.

“If anyone is thinking of fostering, I would say – definitely look into it more. It’s really rewarding and the matching process between a child and their foster carer is great.”

As the pandemic continues to evolve, the council is calling for more foster carers, like Helen, to help transform the lives of young people across the county.

Coun Philip Owen, chairman of children’s services for the council, said: “While the country currently continues to have restrictions and guidelines due to the coronavirus pandemic, it is important to remember that there are still children and young people out there who need our help.

“We really value our foster carers and pay them in line with the National Minimum Fostering Allowances, which sees foster carers receiving weekly payments plus additional allowances for special occasions, such as a Looked After Child’s birthday, providing a regular income to support them in this important role.

“Foster carers approved by the council provide a best value care placement when compared with other care providers, such as independent fostering agencies, so I would encourage anyone who is at a crossroads in their career or who has the time to dedicate to foster care, to find out more on our website and enquire about fostering with Nottinghamshire County Council.”

While government guidance has meant that the fostering team has been unable to hold their usual public fostering information evenings, they are still available and are now holding regular ‘virtual coffee and fostering chats’ via Microsoft Teams video calls. The next virtual chat will be on Monday, 5 October, at 11am, where everyone is welcome to join and listen to a short presentation about fostering with the Council. Details and links for all upcoming events are on the website and fostering Facebook page.

Find out more about fostering for Nottinghamshire online, on Facebook, or call 0115 804 4440 to speak to a member of the fostering team.

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