Across the UK there are nearly 55,000 foster carers looking after around 65,000 fostered children. As foster carers carry out their role in their own homes, they are very much a forgotten army of carers looking after many of the country’s most vulnerable and often traumatised children.
With increased stress on families as the country remains in lockdown, it is fully expected that many more children will be coming into the care system over the coming weeks. Indeed the government has removed the limit of 3 unrelated fostered children within each fostering household. This means that many foster carers will be asked to look after a number of children who are new to their household in the near future.
The fostering workforce is known to be resilient and willing to help and will step up to this task but as they are currently classified as self employed and amongst the lowest paid workers in the UK, they will not benefit from any of the government’s schemes to help those without income. They have no access to Statutory Sick Pay and the vast majority of fostering providers do not pay their foster carers when they are ill.
This petition is asking the government to put in place sick pay for foster carers. Without this support the current national shortage of foster carers will only become more acute as people are unable to afford to keep a house with the extra space needed to allow them to foster.
Across the UK there are nearly 55,000 foster carers looking after around 65,000 fostered children. As foster carers carry out their role in their own homes, they are very much a forgotten army of carers looking after many of the country’s most vulnerable and often traumatised children.
With increased stress on families as the country remains in lockdown, it is fully expected that many more children will be coming into the care system over the coming weeks. Indeed the government has removed the limit of 3 unrelated fostered children within each fostering household. This means that many foster carers will be asked to look after a number of children who are new to their household in the near future.
The country’s foster carers need your support and you are urged to sign this petition.
Foster Care Workers Union 