Peterborough City Council says that the running of its fostering and adoption services by TACT (The Adolescent and Children’s Trust) will reduce reliance on higher cost independent fostering and residential placements.
TACT is the UK’s largest dedicated fostering and adoption charity and will manage all the council’s fostering, special guardianship order, adoption and kinship placement services, beginning this April.
The council says the new TACT Peterborough Permanency service will not only reduce reliance on higher cost independent fostering and residential placements – but will also provide improved training and 24/7 support for Peterborough foster carers.
Chief executive officer of The Adolescent and Children’s Trust, Andy Elvin, said:
“We are delighted to begin running fostering and adoption services across Peterborough – one of our priorities will be to recruit more much needed foster carers, particularly for teenagers and sibling groups, from across the city and surrounding areas.
“We are focused on making a flying start – and have already had lots of enquiries from prospective foster carers.”
The council says that for those interested in fostering, there are very few restrictions – all that is needed is that you have space in your home and space in your heart.
In return, TACT will provide support, training and the right conditions to enable foster carers provide a safe and nurturing home for children and young people.
TACT says it will also be seeking to improve support for family members caring for nieces, nephews and grandchildren through Special Guardianship Orders (SGOs). Andy Elvin added:
“TACT recognise the selfless and invaluable role relatives play in caring for children who cannot remain with their birth parents.
“We will be working with families to ensure that relatives can access the same types of training and support enjoyed by foster carers and adopters.”
Peterborough Cabinet Member for children’s services, Councillor Sam Smith, added:
“The TACT Peterborough Permanency Service will enable us to recruit and retain more local foster carers through an improved support network the partnership will deliver – this will lead to more local longer-term foster placements for Peterborough children and young people.
"Ultimately, we want to find looked after children a permanent home – either through foster care or adoption – as soon as possible, and for them to spend less time in short-term care.
”The partnership is the first of its kind in the country and will secure good fostering and adoption services in Peterborough as council budgets are further reduced.”
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