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As part of an ongoing campaign to encourage people in Poole to consider becoming foster carers, the Borough of Poole is asking people to help keep local children local.

Poole's Fostering Services have found that outcomes for most young people are better if they are placed in local foster homes with local education and health links. This also enables the Borough to manage its budget more effectively and for the greatest benefit of young people.

A 15yr old girl, placed in foster care in Poole, said: "To be fostered locally has made me happy because I can go to my local school, which is better for me. I can see all my friends and keep up with work and my behaviour has got better. I regularly see my mum and give her the help she needs with her disability. I think people should become foster parents locally as it gives children who need extra support a chance to stay close to their homes. It gives them a roof over their head with caring people which makes them feel safe and that's really important."

Cllr Jane James, Executive Portfolio Holder for Tackling Disadvantage, said: "Our young people deserve the best chance in life - nationally, three out of four children who are fostered return home to their families and this is what we want. We need people in Poole to help our young people stay local. It can be an extremely rewarding experience and really make a difference to a young person's future. We are fortunate to have some excellent foster carers working with us currently and we value them greatly but we need more."

Poole Fostering team offer an excellent range of support services and are looking for local people to foster for a range of periods. Payments for skills enable some people to foster full-time, others foster part-time alongside their jobs and some until a young person is independent. The team provides an excellent package of support from health, education, sessional workers, a range of access to leisure services and regular training plus 24hour access to a social worker.

Joyce Spiller, Adoption & Fostering Manager, Borough of Poole, said: "Young people tell us that that important thing for them is to have someone who will listen to them. We work hard to enable young people to stay at home with their families and offer a wide range of support services to help them do this. However there is a need for more foster carers locally to help keep Poole children close to their home when they need extra support. . We are urgently seeking foster carers in Poole who can help local children."

She added: "We need a range of people to foster in order to meet our young people's needs. You can be single or with a partner, with or without children of your own, if you are understanding and sympathetic to the needs of young people then fostering may be for you. To find out more and play your part in the community - building bridges for a young person's future - contact our helpful team in Poole."

Sandra and David Watts have been fostering children locally for 30years, they have looked after over 60 children and are still in touch with many that have left their family. The Watts foster for short-term and long-term periods whilst bringing up their own birth sons & daughters. Damien Watts, their eldest son, has recently completed assessments and training as a foster carer with his wife. He is looking forward to their fostering career, feeling that it enriched his life as he was growing up.

To find out more about fostering in Poole, contact the fostering team for information and advice, tel: (01202) 261501.

Notes:

Foster carers are paid a weekly fee and receive an allowance according to the child's age and the type of placement. Poole offers three kinds of foster care:

Standard carers provide care to young people who often can live more easily with other children. They receive, after training, £80 per week plus allowance

Project and assessment carers have additional training and skills in providing care for young people who may be more challenging. They receive £166 per week plus allowance. In some cases a double project fee is payable of £332.

Key carers look after a young person who would otherwise have to be placed in residential care. One carer fosters full-time to cater for the young persons needs. They receive £499 per week plus allowance.

All carers receive additional payments for holidays, young people's birthdays, holiday and festival allowance, often paid at Christmas. Some carers can also offer a key respite service and receive a fee of £332.