SIC needs more foster carers

SHETLAND Islands Council has launched a new three-year campaign to encourage more people to become foster carers.

The local authority will increase fees and allowances from April in an attempt to tackle a shortage of carers in the isles.

Children’s resources manager Scott Hunter said the council wants to make fostering “financially possible” to families who may not have considered it before.

The campaign aims to highlight that a variety of people can be considered for the role, from singles and full-time workers to those renting a property.

Training is given to prospective carers and they receive support to improve skills in areas like “patience, the ability to listen and how to advocate on behalf of a child”.

The latest recruitment campaign is focuses on children aged over 12, although applications are welcome for all ages.

From April onwards the SIC will offer a sliding scale of foster care fees up to £29,014, while the allowance for living costs will increase by 1.5 per cent.

The local authority currently has foster carers looking after children on an emergency, short term and longer term care basis.

Jillian Copland, who is a foster carer, said that the experience of giving young people a nurturing home has been “extremely worthwhile”.

“I had thought about fostering for many years and admired others who provided this care locally,” she said.

“When I started a career as a teacher I became increasingly aware of young children who required additional care outside the parental home for a whole spectrum of reasons – not always ‘bad’ as is perhaps the assumption in society. I have had a number of fostering placements with different young people and you have to be adaptable to their needs.

“Placements can be tiring, as you may be needed pretty much 24/7 but each is unique, enjoyable, rewarding, challenging to a degree and extremely worthwhile.”

For more information about foster care in Shetland, visit here or text FOSTERING to 66777.