The authority's Children’s Scrutiny Committee have pledged to promote fostering and are encouraging all councillors to do the same.
Councillor Victoria Aitken, cabinet member for children, families and education led the discussion, calling for all councillors to help raise awareness of the need for more foster carers.
Councillor Aitken said the whole foster care offer has been improved with:
- Increased foster carer allowances which match or are higher than other authorities locally
- There is an allowance to help with equipment and setting up your home when you first start to foster
- There are holiday payments and mileage allowances
- Financial support to help towards Christmas
- Free leisure passes at East Riding Leisure Centres
- We have an annual loyalty payment – to say thank you
She added that council are:
- Building an excellent training offer which will make difficult times easier and good ideas shared
- Increasing the level of social worker support and supervision
- Organising and leading joint activity events to create an East Riding Fostering community
- There are support groups and coffee mornings for all in the Fostering Family
- There are therapists to help with challenges
Councillor Aitken appealed for her colleagues to speak to their residents about considering becoming foster carers:
Her fellow councillor, Dr Zahra Saribal, provided some numbers to illustrate the extent of the issue in East Riding:
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