Fostering in Kirklees – a life changing experience
Are you thinking about a different career or a change in direction? You don’t need any special qualifications to become a foster carer for a local child – and it can be incredibly rewarding.
Fostering with Kirklees Council helps to ensure that local children who can’t live with their birth parents are able to stay close to their friends, family and school.
Who can become a foster parent?
People can become foster carers regardless of their marital status, sexuality, religious or cultural background. You can be a homeowner or renting, employed or unemployed, retired or on benefits and be with or without children.
What support is available?
In Kirklees, we give our carers fantastic support, including high-quality training, help from a specialist social worker and advice whenever you need it. The allowance is between £244 and £474 per week for fostering one child, plus further payments based on experience.
Cllr Viv Kendrick, Cabinet Member for Children, said:
“Every child who enters foster care has their own unique background but, for many, life has been challenging. With your help, we can support some of our most vulnerable children and young people to achieve better long-term outcomes.
“Fostering can be a life-changing experience, not only for children but for carers too. It can enrich family life and lead to very special relationships for everyone to cherish.
“All children deserve to be safe, valued and loved. Foster carers provide stability at a difficult time and help them to understand their situation.
“Carers often tell us that moving into fostering was the best thing they’ve ever done. We always need more people to support our children, so please get in touch and we will help you every step of the way.”
If you look after a child of school age, you can work and foster at the same time. All we ask is that your working patterns enable you to meet the needs of the child you are fostering.
Do you have room in your heart and your home? For more information, visit the fostering pages on our website, give us a call on 0800 389 0086 or email fostering@kirklees.gov.uk