Celebrating foster carers in Leeds

A special event to celebrate Leeds foster carers who care for teenagers and young people takes place tomorrow.

The event which has been organised by Leeds City Council is the first of its kind and recognises the support and invaluable commitment foster carers provide to teenagers and young people in Leeds.

Around 180 delegates are expected to attend the event at Elland Road, which will include foster carers and professionals.

Media opportunity

When: Thursday 15 June between 10am – 1pm

Where: Elland Road stadium

Members of the media are invited to attend the Leeds foster care celebration event. Foster carers will be available for interview alongside Cllr Lisa Mulherin and director of children’s services Steve Walker.

Those attending the event will hear contributions from a range of people, including carers, fostering staff and key partners, including the council’s executive member for children and families Councillor Lisa Mulherin and director of children’s services, Steve Walker. The key note speaker is Dez Holmes, Director of Dartington Research In Practice, who will be discussing the importance of developing effective responses to the challenges of supporting adolescents.

Delegates will also have opportunities to attend workshops and a market place where 18 partner agencies are providing a range of information on services for young people.

Councillor Lisa Mulherin, executive member for children and families said:

“This event provides a great opportunity to bring together foster carers, fostering staff and our partners to share experiences, learn together and develop our shared commitment to improving the lives of young people looked after.

“At a time when the overall number of children looked after in Leeds is reducing, the number of older children and teens coming into care for the first time and needing our support is growing. This presents us with challenges and opportunities, but this event provides us with the opportunity to work together and develop ways of working to help address this growing need.”

Leeds City Council currently has 714 approved foster carer households – the highest number ever.

The event will also highlight new developments in support available for teenagers and young people who are looked after by the council, including:

• A new Teenage Fostering Team dedicated to supportingcarers with teenager placements;

• Further development of the Mockingbird Family Model and support for young people and their carers;

• A growing Supported Lodgings service for young people age 16 and over;

• A new ‘Rent a Room’ service, providing support for vulnerable Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Young People;

• Further development of ‘Staying Put’ – Leeds now supports 65 young people age 18 -21 years in Staying Put arrangements, the highest of any LA in the country.