Become A Fostering Friendly Employer
What is the Fostering Friendly Employer’s scheme?
Fostering Friendly is an initiative created by The Fostering Network, the UK’s leading fostering charity. The scheme aims to encourage businesses and organisations to support employees who are Foster Carers, or those on their journey to become a Foster Carer.
According to The Fostering Network, “Nearly 40 per cent of Foster Carers combine fostering with other work. Those who do say that a supportive employer can make all the difference, enabling them to balance employment with looking after children.”
What is the Fostering Friendly Employer’s scheme?
Download a leaflet about the benefits of joining the scheme via the button above.
Foster Carers provide care, support and stability to children and young people who can’t live with their birth families. It is important that employers not only acknowledge this essential role, but also actively promote and celebrate fostering. By embracing a Fostering Friendly policy, you will not only support employees who are already Foster Carers, but also inspire those who might be thinking about it.
Businesses that adopt the Fostering Friendly policy can have a positive impact on their Foster Carer employees. All you need to do is promote fostering and offer Foster Carers flexible working which includes up to five days of paid leave, enabling them to:
- Attend fostering commitments (i.e. meetings around the child)
- Undertake training
- Help settle a new child/children into their home
The scheme is free to join and The Fostering Network can provide a template Fostering Friendly HR policy. Please email fosteringfriendly@fostering.net or visit The Fostering Network to start your journey to become Fostering Friendly.
What are the benefits of being Fostering Friendly?
- Build on your brand and demonstrate your commitment to caring for staff and your local
community - Better understand and support your employees’ needs and improve staff wellbeing
- Be an attractive employer for Foster Carers, who are resilient, committed and skilled professionals
- Play a vital role in recruiting and supporting Foster Carers, with a huge impact for children in
your local community - Engage and inspire staff with learning and awareness-raising events and activities
- Benefit from on-hand expertise from the UK’s leading fostering charity, The Fostering Network
- Be a part of the national celebration of foster care each May: Foster Care Fortnight.
Fostering Friendly employers in West Sussex
A huge thank you to those businesses already supporting Foster Carers. As more businesses and organisations gain Fostering Friendly status, we will list them here. Are you Fostering Friendly? Please let us know by emailing fostering@westsussex.gov.uk.
- John Lewis & Partners/Waitrose
- West Sussex County Council
