Could you offer respite care?

We are calling on experienced caregivers to offer up their skills and time to provide respite to foster carers across England.

This January, we want to thank all of the foster carers currently looking after some of the region’s most vulnerable children and young people. We are also calling for those with caregiving experience and the relevant transferable skills to consider applying to be respite or short-term foster carers.

Respite carers take in a foster child for a limited time period, this might be because of a family emergency or pre-planned holiday or other work commitments. Respite carers provide vital support to long term foster carers who might not otherwise have a break from their full-time role as a foster carer.

In some instances, a respite carer might look after a child for an overnight stay, a weekend, or even just after school if the foster carer is unable to get home in time.

Martin Leitch, our head of fostering operations, said: “Respite carers are an integral part of the fostering industry and ensure full-time foster carers can retain flexibility in their personal lives. Like everyone else, foster carers often find Christmas a busy time so it can be a time when we require more respite carers than usual.

“This type of care is a perfect employment opportunity for those with the relevant caregiving skills and would be great for someone in an existing part-time care role looking for a flexible work opportunity. The roles also offer regular training with industry experts and the opportunity to work alongside social workers and other healthcare professionals.”

For information on how you can help, please call 0345 266 0272 or email [email protected].