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8 May 08Could You Foster? Foster Care Fortnight in May
As part of Foster Care Fortnight 
, (12th - 25th May) Poole Fostering Service is urging people to consider fostering and give local children and young people the much needed help and support that foster care can provide.
Foster Care Fortnight is an annual national campaign co-ordinated by the Fostering Network to raise the profile of fostering and highlight the need for more carers.
Currently there is a national shortage of 10,000 foster carers in the UK. Locally, the Poole Fostering Service needs to recruit at least ten foster families to help ensure that children coming into care in Poole are placed within the right home.
There is always a need for more foster carers with the right skills and qualities. Poole Fostering Service needs foster carers for children and young people of all ages, either for a short time or until they are young adults. People applying to foster can be single or married, with or without children of their own and can come from a range of different backgrounds. The main requirement is that carers must be able to offer the time, commitment, space and skills to care for children separated from their own families. Patience and an open attitude to learning new skills are essential. Support and training will be given.
The Poole Shared Care Scheme also needs people who are able to look after a child with a disability for a few hours a week, or for overnight stays to give respite to the child's family. Shared Carers are assessed in the same way as foster carers and are supported by specialist workers.
Councillor Tony Woodcock, Portfolio Holder for Children's Social Services said: "Children in care can benefit enormously from the chance to experience a stable family life. At Poole Fostering Service we need a range of different families who are able to meet the needs of the children who are in care. We urge people who feel they can provide a caring and secure environment for these children to get in touch with us."
The Poole Fostering Team will be available to offer advice and information leaflets at the Dolphin Centre on Tuesday 20 May from 9.30a.m. until 4.30p.m. Alternatively the team can be contacted on 01202 714711.
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