Breaking the ‘ICE’ with foster carers at online conference

Tuesday, 6 July 2021 09:30

oster carers for the City of Wolverhampton Council were treated to a motivational speech from three life guides as part of their annual conference last week.

This is the second year that the event for foster carers and fostering professionals has be held ‘virtually’ due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It is an opportunity for learning and sharing best practice, to help further improve fostering services for Wolverhampton’s looked after children.

This year’s theme was ‘Fostering Wellbeing’, with a particular focus on the importance of mental and financial health and wellbeing.

Guest speakers from ICE – Insight, Community, Engagement – reflected on the stressful and worrying times people have been living through and gave holistic interventions to relieve and ease tension and discontentment. In a series of afternoon workshops, ICE also gave practical advice on financial matters as well as mental health exercises to help with relaxing and unwinding.

Other presentations included an update on the Independent Visitors Service, while a survey gained important feedback from foster carers about the support they have received from the council’s Fostering For Wolverhampton service throughout the pandemic.

Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Councillor Beverley Momenabadi, said: “It was a pleasure to join our foster carers and fostering professionals at this annual event.

“Our foster carers are some of the most important key workers and frontline carers in our city and I am overwhelmed by the job they do; it’s never been more vital than during these current times.

“Without our foster carers, some of our most vulnerable children wouldn’t have the opportunities to thrive and be loved and grow up to be the happy, caring and kind adults they become. I really thank you for giving them those opportunities and for everything you do every day to change these young lives.”

Foster carers can be single, married or in a relationship – and they won't be on their own as help and support is available 24 hours a day. They will receive ‘buddy support’ from experienced foster carers who are there to help and guide them and carers receive a regular, tax exempt fee and allowance to cover the cost of bringing up the child.

To find out more about Fostering for Wolverhampton, please visit www.fosteringforwolverhampton.com or call 01902 551133.