Coventry needs more foster carers for Coventry children
There are many reasons for children of all ages, and diverse backgrounds needing to come into the care of the local authority, such as a crisis at home, parents who need some extra support to help them parent successfully, drug or alcohol dependency or concerns around violence in the home. Fostering with Coventry City Council means you are providing Coventry children with a safe, positive and nurturing home whilst decisions are being made about their future. The essential work conducted by Coventry foster carers means that children can get the stability, support and care they need, at what can be a challenging time in their lives. Foster carers, therefore, make a real difference to the lives of Coventry children.
There are different types of fostering [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/fostering-1/different-types-fostering] and Coventry has a particular need for foster carers who can, with our support, care for brothers and sisters to stay together, foster carers who can provide care and support for teenagers and foster carers, who can care for children who have more complex needs.
Please contact us if you are especially interested in offering Parent and child fostering [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/fostering-1/different-types-fostering/4] or Next Steps [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/fostering-1/different-types-fostering/3] which requires you to have experience of working with young people. We know that lots of potential foster carers 'rule themselves out' thinking they might not be considered for fostering for one reason or another. So if you are interested in caring for children and young people, please get in touch [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/foster] and have a chat with our friendly team or come to one of our many drop-ins or information events [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/fosteringinfoevents].
If you are a foster carer, or have previously been a foster carer, you may wish to talk to us about how fostering with the Local Authority [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/transferringtofoster] means that you are more likely to have children matched with you, how the assessment would work and how our fees and additional payments compare. We pay a 'skills fee per child' cared for to encourage more people to consider caring for siblings and we also have additional allowances paid at key times such as birthdays, Festivals and holiday time.
Fostering Service (recruitment)
Monday to Thursday: 8.30am â 5pm, Friday: 8.30am - 4.30pm (excluding bank holidays)
Address: Council HouseEarl Street
Coventry
CV1 5RR
Testimonials
Testimonials about their supervising social worker:
We just wanted to say how great our supervising social worker is and that we’ve really appreciated her support over the last couple of years. We feel very fortunate to have her and truly believe that having her support enables us to persevere in the more challenging times”. We appreciate her honesty and the way she holds us to account so that we can be the best foster carers we can be, but she also has a warmth and empathy that makes us feel seen, heard and valued. The positive experience we’ve had of fostering is largely down to her and the support we’ve received from her, so we wanted to acknowledge that to you.
- Nicola and Adam
Over the last 12 months we as a family have gone through a lot of changes we moved a little one onto adoption, which was hard but rewarding still having contact with the adopter has helped see the little one grow and seeing that they are happy makes it all worthwhile”.
“I have a good support network and have been looking to expand to help us as a family more, I recently added another good family friend to my network. I have worked alongside L**** for the most of my time as a foster carer and feel she is a strong supervising social worker and has supported all my decisions and always there to offer advice where needed.
- A Coventry carer
What Coventry carers say about being a foster carer:
It is a joy to provide a home and care for these children, seeing them make progress and enjoy life.
I find being a foster carer really rewarding and being able to provide an environment where our placements can thrive is the best.
Being able to support a child whilst their family are going through a tough time. My wish is that whatever the outcome the child has not found it so traumatic because although they cannot be at home, they have been happy with me and my family.
When you see the young person achieve and learn new skills that will support them into adulthood. Allowing them to learn for themselves and understand the choices they make and how they impact on their lives.
About the preparation training and assessment:
It’s something I’ve wanted to do for many years and learning what these children go through. Has made me want to help these children even more but it also gave me an insight about keeping the children and my own family safe while giving these children the best chance we can.
I have had a very positive experience with everyone I have come in to contact with during this process. I am unable to think of anything at this time that could improve the service I received.