Fostering Friendly

Benefits for Employers:

• Once you are approved, you can display your Fostering Friendly artwork with pride, physically at your offices or building and digitally
• North Lincolnshire Council will advertise your entry into our scheme, and you will be listed on our website
• Build your reputation and brand within the community – send a message to service users, potential customers, and future employees that you are fully committed to looking after your staff and children with care experience
• Show strong social responsibility. People living in North Lincolnshire have a strong connection to the area and being seen to look after the wider community sends a clear message that you are a responsible employer with a long-term commitment to the community
• Supporting staff builds morale
• You will have access to advice, information, and support on helping staff who are or who are wanting to become foster carers
• Implementing a Fostering Friendly policy means employees could be more likely to remain in work while fostering and therefore potentially increase retention of staff
• A Fostering Friendly policy would encourage more people to consider fostering since they are supported at work, meaning more children are able to stay within their local area to thrive and grow
• Being a member of our scheme and a Fostering Friendly employers can improve support for staff, making workplaces friendlier for foster carers, benefiting the children in their care, and making it easier for people to consider fostering
• Promote your commitment to work life balance
• You will share in the celebration of foster care and the vital role it has in transforming children’s lives

Being a member of the scheme and what you can offer will be bespoke to your organisation and the team will discuss different options with you.

By signing up to the scheme you can help by:

• Making information about how to become a foster carer available on notice boards, intranet sites, websites, social media, internal publications, newsletters, and email signatures – we can provide the information for you
• Hosting information sessions for your staff – our team will be available to present the fostering information and explain the support available
• Providing space in your office, building or grounds to display posters or banners and other literature to further raise awareness and recruit new foster carers or alternatively on your digital outlets
• Helping provide support, services and social events for local foster families
• Offering work experience and support in gaining employment for young people in foster care and care leavers
• Providing sponsorship, prizes or rewards for celebration events or competitions
• Offering discounts or special offers for foster carers and foster families, where suitable to your organisation
• Implement a fostering friendly HR policy for all foster carers in your employment (regardless of their fostering service) – we can fully support with this and provide you with the guidance for your policy template to use