Antea Group UK has implemented a Foster Friendly policy to make a real difference to its employees who foster, and support others in becoming approved foster carers themselves.
This new policy offers a flexible working pattern to foster carers and those going through the application process to help create a fostering-friendly organisation that responds to the needs of all foster carers or approved kinship carer employees.
Jess Beckwith, Senior Project Manager at Antea Group UK and current foster carer shared, “I became a foster carer just over a year ago, for either planned or emergency ‘short break’ placements and have fostered 12 children so far. The Antea Group UK leadership have been incredibly supportive with approving flexible working, particularly when emergency placements arise, often with only a couple of hours of notice. I am delighted that Antea Group UK are formalising their existing support in this policy, and I hope that this will encourage others to consider fostering or attract potential foster carers to our company.”
The Fostering Network is the UK’s leading fostering charity.
Their executive chair, Mervyn Erskine says, “becoming a Fostering Friendly employer is something to be really proud of. Foster carers are the bedrock of children’s social care – for the difference they make to the lives of children. It is important that this vital role is not only recognised, but also encouraged by their employers.”
By supporting existing foster carers and promoting the role to other employees, this helps to build on the thousands of extra fostering households needed in the UK, for the children who need them most.
Learn more about The Fostering Network and their upcoming campaign, Foster Care Fortnight 2024, here: https://thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/foster-care-fortnight-2024
