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Foster Care information session

Published: 28/05/2015

Have you ever thought about becoming a foster carer and would like to find out more? As part of Foster Care Fortnight (June 1 to 14), Flintshire County Council’s Fostering service is holding an information session on Thursday 4 June at Days Hotel, Garden City, Queensferry. The evening starts at 7pm with a presentation, which answers common questions about fostering. The evening will also be an opportunity to meet some of the team to find out more about how you can help, either by fostering full time, or by offering respite support to other carers, helping with sleep-overs or visits. Councillor Christine Jones, Cabinet Member for Social Services, said: “Across the UK, there is a rise of children coming into care, and we are calling on the people of Flintshire to come forward and see if they can foster. Every year, experienced foster carers leave due to retirement or other family reasons, so there is a constant need to recruit new foster carers. “Flintshire fostering service has 114 foster carers all doing a wonderful job- it’s a record number for the local authority, but most of those are already caring for children and the beds are full. We currently look after over 200 children, and, in the last 12 months, 77 more children needed foster care, that’s at least 6 children every month. There are also plans to extend foster care to over 18, and to do this we need more foster carers. It’s not easy, but it is very rewarding to be a foster carer“ Jill Jones from Flintshire’s fostering service added: “This event is a great opportunity to find out more about becoming a foster carer, with no obligation. “Fostering is open to people who are single, married, living together, working, retired, unemployed, gay, straight, old and young, with or without children. Above all, we are looking for people who can offer a stable and secure home, and who have the commitment, skills and ability to look after children separated from their own families.” To find out more, visit www.flintshirefostering.org.uk