17 January 2023
Last year, the Government of Jersey confirmed that it had the lowest number of foster
carers in a decade and put out an urgent call for foster carers.
Following on from that campaign, more than 25 individuals contacted the Fostering and Adoption
team to ask for more information. In total, 11 have started their foster carer training and will be
fully qualified and ready to foster by May.
Despite the success of the campaign, more foster carers are still needed across all the different
types of fostering to ensure that there is a wider pool of carers to better meet the needs of children
and young people, even when numbers increase.
The new appeal highlights the support available to people who are considering fostering a child or
young person alongside their existing children.
As well as one-to-one support from a dedicated
social worker, families benefit from ongoing training and support, and are matched to foster
children whose needs they can meet.
There are different types of fostering available, and Islanders are being asked to come forward for
everything from emergency care (for up to two weeks) to long-term foster carer (providing a
permanent home for a child).
Regardless of the type of placement they provide, foster parents have
access to financial support throughout their foster placement, to help them provide the best
possible care.
Islanders who want to know more about becoming a foster carer can contact the Fostering and
Adoption team for an informal chat on 01534 443970, by emailing
fosteringandadoption@health.gov.je, or by visiting Liberté House on La Motte Street.
The Fostering and Adoption team will also be holding information pop-ups on:
- Saturday 21 January at Jump Jersey between 10am and 3pm
- Saturday 28 January at Fort Regent between 10am and 3pm
Nicola Looby, who fosters a child alongside her young child while working part-time, said: “We had
lots of worries and concerns when we started fostering: was our accommodation going to be
suitable, or our finances at the time? I was just starting a degree, my husband was working. We
wondered how we would juggle caring for a child within that as well.
“But a child needs love, it needs security, it needs a home, and it needs fun. And if you can provide
a child with that, then you can become a foster carer.”
Assistant Minister for Children and Education, Connétable Richard Vibert, said: “We had a fantastic
response to the campaign we ran in August, and I’d like to wholeheartedly thank the people who
came forward from that campaign.
“We learned from that campaign that there are a lot of Islanders who have considered being a
foster carer, but who want to know more about the support in place. This is especially true for
parents, who may want to know more about how a foster child will fit in with their existing family
and childcare commitments.
“If you are one of those people, please reach out to the Fostering and Adoption team and find out
more about the different types of fostering placement available, and how they can be flexible
around your needs.
“This can be as straightforward as making a call, sending an email, or stopping by Liberté House on
your lunch break. The team are happy to answer your questions, and help you decide if fostering is
right for you and your family.”
Fostering and adoption
gov.je