Report highlights work in Leeds to meet increasing demand for foster carers

The annual fostering report, to be discussed by senior councillors at next Wednesday’s executive board meeting (February 12), gives an update of the innovative work and progress of services that support the city’s foster and kinship carers.

Leeds City Council’s fostering service, Foster 4 Leeds, plays a crucial role in supporting over 400 fostering placements and 350 children living with kinship or connected carers across Leeds.

However, as is the case nationally, the need for more foster carers is continuing to rise and recruitment is a significant priority in Leeds.

This year, breakthrough work and plans have included:

• Successfully recruiting 113 new carers, including 88 new kinship carers, allowing children to remain within their family - a key aim in Leeds wherever possible.
• A wide-reaching recruitment campaign has also seen expressions of interest significantly increase – with an average of 45 per month from September 2024 onwards. 
• Recruitment of two new full-time roles to bolster engagement and partnership work to support recruitment and retention of carers.
• Plans to engage wider communities and recruit carers from ethnically diverse backgrounds, working in conjunction with Child Friendly Leeds in holding ambassadors events to break down barriers and raise awareness of the opportunities.
• The launch of a new dedicated Foster 4 Leeds website, showcasing benefits and detailed information on the different types of fostering available.
• A new ‘reunification’ service – which aims to reunite children with their birth families, while supported by foster carers – is now up and running and is supporting children to be safely returned home.
• A full programme of enrichment activities and family fun days for foster families running throughout the year, particularly enhanced during school holidays when two to three activities are held each week. More opportunities will also soon be on the way, after the service held a network event with over 70 local and national companies and organisations offering their support to further boost benefits for foster carers and their families in Leeds.

Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for children and families, said: “Children do their best living in families and these proposals go a long way to enhance the health and wellbeing of our looked after children and ensure they grow and thrive in family environments.

“We are utterly committed to supporting all carers in this vital role and enabling fostering to be a rewarding experience, giving a real purpose to truly help change lives.

“I would encourage anyone interested to please take a look at our new website and consider joining our incredible legion of foster and kinship carers who provide that crucial consistency in care for our city’s vulnerable children.

“Being able to place children within Leeds has many benefits – not least enabling young people to retain strong relationships with their birth family, continue at school and access all the benefits of living within our child friendly city.”

To view the annual fostering report being considered by the executive board visit Council and democracy (agenda item 10).

For more information on fostering in Leeds, please visit: Foster 4 Leeds | Foster 4 Leeds.

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact:

Leeds City Council communications and marketing,

Email: communicationsteam@leeds.gov.uk

Tel: 0113 378 6007