Hartlepool fostering service hits target early - but town still in need of more foster parents

A report providing an update on the fostering service from October to December in Hartlepool was delivered at the latest council Children’s Services Committee.

The total number of approved foster carers in Hartlepool is 149, of whom 40 are approved as connected carers (a known and connected person to a specific child).

Over the last quarter four new mainstream foster carers were approved, taking the total number approved for the year so far to 12.

This means they have surpassed their target of a minimum of 10 with still a quarter of the year to go.

At the end of 2019, councillors heard how enquiries from people considering becoming foster carers had doubled.

Councillors praised the progress and work being put in by the fostering team.

Coun Leisa Smith, chair of the committee, said: “I do have a lot of conversations with random people and find that a lot of them speak very highly of the foster carer team and the people that look after them and train them, so they do an absolutely amazing job.”

Coun Brenda Harrison also noted a positive open event was held last week promoting the service and the good work they are doing.

She said: “It just sort of compounds what we already know, that the service is good and our looked after children are thriving and doing very well.

“I think that it’s working really well and just to say well done to the staff that are involved in that.”

In total Hartlepool foster carers provide placements for 184 children and young people in none-connected provision and 49 children/young people are with connected foster carers.

There are also 20 young people in ‘staying put’ placements, these are care leavers living with their previous carers post 18 years of age.

Council officers also noted the fostering team is continually working to attract new foster carers, with steps in place to continue their campaign in the coming months.

Karen Douglas-Weir, head of services for looked after children and care leavers, said the strategy is being updated, with messages to be put on the side of buses promoting fostering.

She said: “In terms of our fostering campaign we have had a reduction in this quarter in terms of people coming forward wanting to be foster carers.

“But we continue to drive that in terms of what we’ve done is we’ve asked the banners to be moved because they’ve been in the same position for quite some time. We’ve also asked them to be given a clean.

“Our aim is to get banners on the side of buses to try and get people viewing it in the community so it’s different from the banners on the side of the road, and it just gets into the psyche if you see it all the time.”