Foster carers on the Isle of Wight are receiving extra support closer to home following the opening of a new dedicated Family Placement office in Ryde.
Family Placement, part of National Fostering Group, has established the Island base to give foster carers somewhere to meet social workers, support workers and other carers without having to travel to the mainland.
The office can be used for face-to-face training sessions and workshops, as well as meetings between foster carers and their supervising social worker or support worker.
Monthly support groups are also being held at the Ryde base alongside a regular programme of events.
One of the first events will be a Macmillan Coffee Morning on 25th September, giving people the chance to meet the team at the new Ryde office while supporting Macmillan Cancer Support.
The event will run from 11:00-13:00 at the Family Placement Office, Office 8, Fortis House, Cothey Way, Ryde.
Everyone is invited to attend for coffee, cake and company, with the event being held in support of Macmillan Cancer Support.
National Fostering Group CEO Tim Barclay is also due to visit the office in October to meet carers and discuss the support available through the organisation.
The Isle of Wight team consists of 2 supervising social workers and a family support worker, who provide support to foster families and liaise with local authorities.
Their work also includes regular supervision and helping to ensure foster families have the support they need to help children in their care thrive.
Hilary Vass, Registered Manager for the Isle of Wight office, has said:
“Having an office on the island is essential for the identity of the Isle of Wight. Our fostering community has grown significantly over the last 12 months, including foster carers who’ve chosen to transfer to us from local authorities or other fostering agencies.
“We wanted to give our foster carers a place to call their own right here on the island. Creating a sense of belonging is at the heart of everything we do as a fostering agency.
“We’ve invested heavily in building a team that understands the local community here on the Isle of Wight, including the challenges that foster families can face. We’re committed to going the extra mile to make sure that carers feel welcome and supported.”
Foster carers with Family Placement on the Isle of Wight can also access support from the wider Family Placement agency and National Fostering Group, which describes itself as the UK’s largest independent foster care provider.
For more information about Family Placement and fostering, visit nationalfosteringgroup.co.uk.
