With the NHS turning 75 on Wednesday 5 July, we’d like to join the rest of Portsmouth City Council in celebrating the remarkable organisation which provides the residents of our city and the surrounding areas with vital health care, and recognising the dedication of all those who have worked in it over the years since it was founded in 1948.
We’d also like to invite them to consider whether they could utilise the skills they’ve gained in their careers to foster a child or siblings in need or offer Supported Lodgings for vulnerable young people from Portsmouth.
Many of our children or young people have had life experiences which require the care of someone who has relevant expertise, or they may have learning and physical disabilities or complex health needs.
We need more foster carers in and around Portsmouth from diverse backgrounds who can offer their heart and home to vulnerable children and young people from our city, and so that those with any additional needs can be appropriately matched, they can thrive in a caring environment, and we can build successful placements minimising disruption and improving outcomes.
Foster carers who care for children or young people with additional needs receive enhanced training, 24/7 support, and additional fees and allowances, as well as respite care or Family Link support from other foster carers. They would also have access to our mentoring scheme and Mockingbird programme which we are progressively rolling out across the Portsmouth area.
Whether you might consider a short or long term arrangement for a child or siblings until they’re ready to live independently or be reunited with family, support for unaccompanied children seeking asylum or children with a disability, supported lodgings to develop their independent living skills, parent and baby placements, or respite care, you’ll find the right fit of fostering for you and your family.
Anyone aged 21+ with a spare bedroom could foster with Foster Portsmouth regardless of their age, gender, faith, ethnicity, sexuality, marital or work status, or whether they rent or own their own home.
If you have the commitment and enthusiasm to care for vulnerable children including those with additional needs, we would love to hear from you. We can arrange an informal chat with an experienced member of our team to answer any queries you may have. We can also organise a 1-2-1 with one of our existing carers so you can discover first-hand the difference you could make.
Could you be their champion too?
To enquire about fostering with Foster Portsmouth, or to arrange a 1:1 with one of our experienced team or existing foster carers, please fill in our contact form below, call 023 9283 4071 or email fostering@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.
