Carers to receive extra £500 for their Covid-19 efforts

Foster and adult placement carers are to be offered a one-off £500 payment in recognition of their resilience and commitment during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The payment comes after carers were called upon to support care experience children and adults with learning disabilities when lockdown was introduced across the UK.

Foster carers were, for example, asked to step in to facilitate contact of children with families via the phone or using Facetime. Often, this was the first-time carers had taken on the role and had little time to prepare, get training or access support.

In recognition of their resilience and determination to provide the highest quality of care to children, young people and adults with a learning disability through such a challenging period, all adult placement families, in-house foster carers and supported lodgings hosts will receive a one-off payment of £500.

Foster carers and supported lodgings hosts demonstrated high levels of resilience, offering the highest standards of care to the children and adults who they were looking after.

They showed tremendous commitment and played a significant role in safeguarding vulnerable children, young people and adults with a learning disability during a period of exceptional difficulty.

Councillor Jane Gebbie, Cabinet Member for Social Services and Early Help

Across Wales, there is a shortage of people able to provide foster care and supported lodgings placement to children and young people who cannot live at home with their birth families.

Bridgend County Borough Council recently appealed for ‘empty nesters’ to consider fostering a child or young person who needs a loving home.

For more information, visit the Foster Wales Bridgend website to find out more or contact the fostering team on 01443 425007.