Plymouth City Council has this week released a film about fostering in Plymouth.

The film features the experiences of real foster carers and young people who have been in care. They discuss the difference that foster carers make to the lives of local children and their families. Social workers and managers from the fostering service explain why people might consider fostering and what is involved.

The film is titled 'Grow a career in fostering'. An underlying theme is that thanks to a new payments system, which was launched in October 2009, fostering can now be pursued as a career. There are four payment levels depending on skills and experience, the highest being equivalent to a full-time salary in some childcare professions.

Plymouth foster carers Julia and Pete have cared for children with special needs and complex emotional difficulties. They have recently moved to Band 4 of the Payment for Skills scheme. They said: "When we began our fostering career we were very real in realising our own limits to the children we could look after. It is only as we have progressed and looked after children with additional health and developmental needs that our confidence and knowledge has expanded. It has been a very natural progression for us as a family and a road that we have all enjoyed travelling."

The release of the film coincides with the launch of Plymouth City Council's biggest ever campaign to recruit foster carers. Between now and the end of March, staff from the fostering service will be doing a range of activities to raise awareness across Plymouth:

1. Adverts are being placed in local newspapers, magazines, websites and on Westcountry TV
2. On 26 January staff from the fostering service will be out and about in Plymouth talking to local businesses and asking them to display posters and leaflets
3. Leaflets are being sent to all Plymouth households with the Council tax bills in March
4. Advertising boards have been placed on the Torpoint ferries
5. A new fostering section will be added to the Plymouth City Council website on 25 January, this includes case studies of existing foster carers and an interactive quiz designed to help people think about whether they might be eligible

Councillor Grant Monahan, Cabinet Member for children and young people, said: "Foster carers are crucial to the way the whole care system works. We are putting a lot of time and energy into recruiting new foster carers and looking after existing foster carers because we realise just how valuable they are to society and our local community. They help give children who can’t live with their biological parents a home and a place they can grow up in and feel safe."

Speaking about the need to recruit more foster carers, Permanency and Placements Service Manager Anne Osborne said, "We hope the film will inspire people and help them start to think about whether fostering might be right for them. You can foster if you are single or in a relationship. If you have a partner or children then it’s important that the whole family is committed to the idea. The film is a great way of bringing fostering to life and showing what it’s all about. The whole family can watch it together."

Talking about the rewards of fostering, Julia and Pete said: "Being part of the child's life is very rewarding, really small improvements become a major celebration. Celebrating children for who they are and realising that illness is not an identity is something that is very much felt by us. Promoting and advocating for a young person is one of the most rewarding things we do and just that little smile, tear or hug means the absolute world to us."

Julia and Pete discussed fostering as a career option. They said: "As an option it is one that needs to be thought about very carefully, it is a 24-7 role that requires a decision made by the whole of the family. It is important to realise that you may experience negativity, anger, abuse, rejection, emotional highs and lows, peer pressure, animosity and total exhaustion. If you feel you need a challenge and a new perspective of life this is definitely for you. And do you know what we wouldn’t change it for the world!"

For more information visit the fostering pages from 25 January. Everyone who makes an enquiry about fostering will also receive a free DVD.

Further information about the eligibility criteria and application process is available on the payment for skills page or by phoning 0800 085 8034.

Devon Directory

• Links for Children and Families in Devon
• Local Government in Devon

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