FOSTER CARERS FOR LEWISHAM

Could you provide the love and stability a child needs...? If so, please Foster for Lewisham!

What is Fostering?
Fostering is looking after babies, children and young people who cannot live at home with their own families.

• Types of fostering include emergency, respite, short-term, long-term or permanent, caring for teenagers, unaccompanied Asylum seekers, mother and babies and sibling groups.

We provide a weekly allowance, social work support and supervision, training, support groups with other carers and a round-the-clock telephone advice service. We will also pay for your membership of the Fostering Network.

Who can foster?

Couples, married or unmarried

Single people

Same gender couples

Before you foster you need to show that you:

• have the skills needed to care for a child appropriately that is not your own
• understand how it feels for children to be separated from their own families

• have the stability, availability and space in your home and to provide a loving home

Children and young people in foster care are vulnerable. That means we have to undertake an assessment of you and your family circumstances and make sure you are trained and prepared before a child comes to live with you and your family.

Location

Your home

Allowance details

The amount depends on the child or young person’s age. This allowance covers the full cost of caring for the child. You should not rely on the money as an income and you will need to show that you have other means to support yourself financially. These payments do not affect any benefits you may get.

Further information/ How to apply to become a foster carer

If you meet the criteria above and want to find out more about fostering, please visit our site www.lewisham.gov.uk/fostering and speak with our Enquiry Officer, Ellie Stephens on 0800 015 0129 or email fosteringrecruitment@lewisham.gov.uk, who can discuss the role and the recruitment process with you.

The post is subject to a DBS and background checks.

The Council reserves the right to close adverts early if there is a large response.

PLEASE DO NOT APPLY VIA THE "APPLY FOR JOB" LINK ABOVE THE ADVERT AND CONTACT ELLIE STEPHENS AS PER THE DETAILS PROVIDED SHOULD YOU WISH TO BECOME A FOSTER CARER.