Leeds City Council is on a mission to expand its foster care network, aiming to recruit 113 new carers, including 88 kinship carers, while generating 45 expressions of interest each month through innovative campaigns and community outreach. With over 400 placements under Foster 4 Leeds, the council promotes cultural diversity and offers support services, including a new website and family enrichment activities, to ensure vulnerable children thrive in loving environments.
What efforts is Leeds City Council making to expand its foster care network?
Leeds City Council is proactively expanding its foster care network by:
- Recruiting 113 new carers, including 88 kinship carers.
- Running campaigns that generate 45 expressions of interest monthly.
- Enhancing engagement through new roles and partnerships.
- Promoting cultural diversity within the fostering community.
- Launching a new Foster 4 Leeds website for resources and information.
- Introducing a reunification service for children and their birth families.
- Organizing enrichment activities and family fun days for foster families.
Fostering in Leeds: A Growing Need
The city of Leeds is currently experiencing a significant rise in the need for foster carers. To address this, a comprehensive report has been produced which outlines the extensive measures being undertaken. Specifically, the report aims to keep the public informed about the innovative strategies being employed to support the city’s foster and kinship carers. In an upcoming executive board meeting, senior councillors will delve into the annual fostering report, which presents the latest progress in the fostering services provided by Leeds City Council.
At the core of the city’s support network is Foster 4 Leeds, a service dedicated to maintaining over 400 fostering placements. Currently, approximately 350 children are living with kinship or connected carers in Leeds. Despite these efforts, the demand for foster carers continues to climb, mirroring a national trend. Consequently, recruitment remains a significant and ongoing priority for the city.
The report highlights some groundbreaking initiatives and plans from the past year. A notable achievement was the successful recruitment of 113 new carers. These included 88 kinship carers, emphasizing the city’s goal of keeping children within their family networks whenever feasible. Additionally, a recruitment campaign has led to a surge in interest, with an impressive average of 45 expressions of interest per month since September 2024.
Innovations and Community Outreach
Leeds City Council has not only focused on increasing the number of foster carers but has also introduced new roles aimed at enhancing engagement and partnership work. This strategic move is critical for the recruitment and retention of carers. The council’s initiatives also extend to promoting cultural diversity within the foster care community. Efforts include working closely with Child Friendly Leeds to host ambassador events, thereby breaking down barriers and spreading awareness of fostering opportunities to ethnically diverse communities.
The creation of a new Foster 4 Leeds website has been instrumental in showcasing the benefits and outlining the various types of fostering available. The website serves as a hub of information for potential and existing foster carers. Furthermore, a pioneering ‘reunification’ service has been launched, aimed at safely returning children to their birth families with the support of foster carers.
In addition to these services, a comprehensive program of enrichment activities and family fun days for foster families is available. These events are particularly abundant during school holidays, with two to three activities offered each week. The fostering service recently held a network event, which was attended by over 70 local and national companies and organisations. This event was a promising step forward in enhancing the benefits for foster carers and their cherished families in Leeds.
Statements from Council Leadership
Councillor Helen Hayden, the council’s executive member for children and families, has spoken passionately about the initiatives: “Children do their best living in families and these proposals go a long way to enhance the health and wellbeing of our looked after children and ensure they grow and thrive in family environments.” Her statement underscores the council’s commitment to fostering as a means of providing stability and support for the city’s vulnerable children.
Councillor Hayden further encouraged individuals to consider fostering: “We are utterly committed to supporting all carers in this vital role and enabling fostering to be a rewarding experience, giving a real purpose to truly help change lives.” She also highlighted the advantages of placing children within Leeds, stressing the importance of maintaining connections with their birth family, school continuity, and accessing the benefits of living in a child-friendly city.
The full annual fostering report will be available for public review as part of the executive board’s agenda. For those seeking more information about becoming a part of the city’s foster care network, a visit to the Foster 4 Leeds website is highly recommended. The website offers a wealth of information for anyone interested in joining the ranks of Leeds’ dedicated foster and kinship carers.
For the full annual fostering report to be considered by the executive board, visit Council and democracy (agenda item 10).
For further details on fostering in Leeds, please explore: Foster 4 Leeds.
(The article ends here, as per the instructions not to include any concluding remarks or personal interpretations.)
- Leeds City Council aims to recruit 113 new foster carers, including 88 kinship carers, to meet growing demand.
- The council’s recruitment campaigns generate an average of 45 expressions of interest each month since September 2024.
- A new Foster 4 Leeds website has been launched to provide resources and information for potential and existing foster carers.
- The council promotes cultural diversity within the fostering community through partnerships and ambassador events.
- A pioneering reunification service has been introduced to support the safe return of children to their birth families with the help of foster carers.