Leeds families urged to foster disabled children
Leeds has a particular need for foster carers who can foster children with additional needs and disabilities.
Foster4Leeds, Leeds City Council’s Fostering Department, has launched a 100 Helping Hands campaign to increase the number of foster families caring for children with disabilities in the city area to 100.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Visit www.foster4leeds.co.uk or call the dedicated foster carer recruitment line on 0113 3783538.
All children should be cared for in ordinary families and should not be placed in a residential setting because of their additional needs, it says.
Foster4Leeds is looking for people who have the motivation to offer some time to care for children with a wide range of additional needs including autism, learning disabilities, physical impairments and other health issues
It welcomes enquiries from people from all backgrounds and circumstances – whether single, married and of any gender, religion or sexuality.
The department has successfully placed more than 60 children whose lives are enriched through this experience.
Disabled children who are fostered have to deal with separation from familiar people and places that are important to them when their understanding may be limited.
They need all the sensitivity, warmth and care you can give and as much contact as possible with the people and places that are important to them.
Foster carers will shape a positive future for them by offering a loving home, parenting skills and the support they need for their growth and development.
Foster4Leeds is looking for carers with at least one weekend every six weeks to share with a child for a short break. Short breaks carers offer a fun environment for a child; an opportunity to enjoy new experiences and activities, to build new relationships, be included in a new family, and increase their independence.
The child and their family have a break with the parents feeling confident that the child is being well cared for.
Short breaks foster families often build strong supportive relationships with the families of the children they care for, and experience a real sense of making a positive difference.
Foster4Leeds also support children and families with day care and are recruiting carers who can offer this.
LINKS
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LdsFosteringAdv
Twitter: @FosteringAdv hashtag #100helpinghands
Recruitment line: 0113 3783538