Celebrating becoming an employer that supports fostering

We’re proud to announce that we’re now  making a commitment to supporting local foster carers and the children they care for and improving support to our own employees at the same time.

Adra has committed to supporting their employees, who also provide foster care, by offering additional paid leave for their fostering commitments. This will provide foster carers with greater flexibility to respond to any emergencies that may arise with fostering and to attend meetings, training and to settle a young person into their new home.

With over 5,000 children currently in foster care in Wales, employers are being called upon to offer foster carers the flexibility to combine fostering with other work. According to the National Fostering Network, nearly 40 per cent of foster carers combine fostering with other work. Having a supportive employer can make a world of difference to fostering families, enabling them to balance employment with fostering children. Support from their employer also helps those interested in fostering, to take that first step.

Sarah Roberts, our HR and Organisational Development Officer said:

“At Adra, we work with a social heart. We want to have a positive impact on people’s lives, as well as the wider community. There is no better way to achieve this than to support those who give their time to help others who need it most, by providing a loving and supportive home when its needed most.

We have implemented a fostering friendly policy at Adra to make a real difference to our employees who foster, and hopefully encourage and support others in becoming approved foster carers themselves. It also recognises the fantastic contribution foster carers make to society in North Wales and to the lives of children and young people in their care.”

Meinir Llwyd, Regional Marketing Officer for Foster Wales, the National network of 22 Welsh local authority fostering teams added: 

“Becoming a supportive employer of fostering is something to be really proud of and we thank Adra for their commitment to supporting foster care in North Wales.

“As the need for foster carers continues to grow, reaching out to local employers to be fostering friendly is one of many things we are doing to support our foster carers in North Wales.

“We know when children stay connected, stay local and have someone to support them for the long term, we see better outcomes. So, if local employers can support their employees to become foster carers, local authorities can help more children stay connected to their roots and ultimately support them towards a better future.”

Foster Wales has set out with the bold aim of recruiting over 800 new foster families by 2026, to provide welcoming homes for local children and young people.