COUNCIL staff will be offered time off and flexible working to encourage more people to become foster carers with Bradford Fostering and to set an example to other employers.

Bradford Council has become a “Fostering Friendly Employer”, a national endorsement by the Fostering Network that is designed to help employers recognise and support staff looking after foster children. Currently, fewer than 30 employers across the country are recognised for their fostering friendly policies.

The Fostering Network's scheme requires employers to adopt an HR policy which supports workers who take up fostering. This includes offering them flexible working and paid time off for training and settling a new child into their home.

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council staff who already foster children can look forward to additional support as well.

Fostering requires a high level of commitment, and, in light of this, the council is now offering the carers among its staff greater flexibility and additional time off to help them better balance work with being a great foster carer for the council.

Councillor Adrian Farley, Executive Member for children and families, said: "In the Bradford district, there is a real and urgent need for people to come forward to foster, particularly to look after older children, brothers and sisters who need to stay together and children with disabilities.

“We need to make sure we have more foster carers who can support these children and give them a loving and friendly home.

“Foster carers play a vital role, and it's important that employers give them the support they need.

“We feel it's best to lead by example, and hope we'll inspire other organisations to join our Fostering Friendly ethos.

“This is a great opportunity for the council to show that it is fostering friendly and recognises the importance of foster carers in looking after our most vulnerable citizens.

“We need to support our staff, because to take on a child is a massive decision for a person to make. As their employer, we have got to be behind them.

“Being a foster carer can be challenging, but it's also hugely rewarding and all foster carers are fully trained, supported and receive regular payments.

“The council wants other employers in the district to come forward and implement changes as part of their corporate social responsibility to help support its work to recruit and retain foster carers in Bradford.”

Vicky, a Bradford Fostering connected foster carer and former employee at Bradford Council, said: “If this policy hadn’t been available to me, I would not have been able to foster Sara. It was really important that my employer, which was also the corporate parent of my foster child, understood that I needed the support to be able to attend meetings about my child during office hours, as well as the support I received during my assessment. I felt really supported and that I had the council’s acknowledgement of my status as foster carer and employee.

“It’s an extra layer of support for us and allows us to be confident that our employer supports our role as foster carers.”

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council, said: “It’s absolutely the right thing to do to become a Fostering Friendly Employer. It has the potential to make a huge difference for children in care in our district.

“I hope it encourages other local employers to think seriously about doing the same.

“The Fostering Friendly scheme is not one size fits all; employers consider the needs of foster carers and do what they can to support them fulfil their dual roles as employees and foster carers, possibly through giving time off for training, allowing swapping of shifts or sharing information on foster caring.

“We want to provide leadership in Bradford to encourage other businesses to join us in becoming foster friendly.

“The changes are simple and will have a significant impact on the children in our district who require foster care. The scheme asks for companies to:

• recognise the needs of foster carers in employment policies

• help us celebrate fostering and foster carers.

“If you think you could foster a child and would like to know more, our team would love to hear from you. Please get in touch by visiting www.fosterbradford.co.uk or calling 01274 434444."