Newly appointed Minister visits South East foster care recruitment project

The visit from the Labour MP for Lewisham East, and former children's social worker, followed the launch of Local Authority Fostering South East, a DfE funded project aimed at recruiting more foster carers across the region and the largest local authority fostering recruitment hub in the country.

Minister Daby met with foster carers, care-experienced young people, and representatives from Local Authority Fostering South East at Time Square, Bracknell Forest last Wednesday (31 July).

This visit marks Minister Daby's first engagement with fostering services since her appointment as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Education (DfE).  During the visit, the Minister learned about a new support programme for foster carers called Mockingbird and the new innovative approach to foster carer recruitment, which includes joint marketing campaigns running across the region to attract more people willing to take on this life changing role.

Linda Brown has been a foster carer with West Berkshire Council for eighteen years. She's an ambassador for the regional fostering hub and attended the visit. She said,

"During the visit we got to share with the Minister how West Berkshire have developed hubs to support foster carers. We currently have three hubs and the 'Orca Hub' that I run with my husband Andy is now in its third year.

"We've been privileged to see friendships and connections develop through the parties and activities we run for the young people. For the adults we have coffee mornings, training events, chilli n chill evenings and barbecues.

"The support the hubs have created makes our fostering journey fulfilling and complete, giving us extended family that also understands our individual families.

"Helping many young people navigate the difficulties and challenges they face on their life journey through fostering is incredibly rewarding.  I encourage anyone considering fostering to reach out and learn more."

Minister Daby emphasised the urgent need for more foster carers saying,

"We know that there's a growing demand for foster placements across the country and we must do more to recruit and retain more foster carers.

"I met with the South East's newly launched recruitment and retention hub team to find out how they will offer support to prospective foster carers, improve the transition to becoming a carer, and encourage more people to foster children. I encourage anyone with an interest in fostering in the area to get in touch to find out more and help to give children growing up in care every possible opportunity for better life chances."

Councillor Jeff Brooks, Leader of West Berkshire Council said,

"It was good to see Minister Daby taking such a keen interest in this groundbreaking project. Foster carers are in short supply across the South East and we have no time to lose in recruiting more. We know that foster carers change lives for the better and can play a key role in a child's development. By working together, we are stronger and more able to get this important recruitment job done."

For more information, visit Local Authority Fostering South East and register you interest in West Berkshire if you live within 20 miles radius.

For information on fostering in West Berkshire visit https://www.westberks.gov.uk/fostering or call 01635 503155.