why foster with us?
support and rewards
finance and allowances
As a foster carer with your Foster Wales Rhondda Cynon Taf team, you’ll receive generous financial allowances. We base these on a number of different factors, including the type of fostering you do, how many children you foster, and how long for.
For example, right now in Rhondda Cynon Taf there are foster carers who receive between £15,522 and £41,600 per year.
other rewards
There are a wider range of rewards to being a foster carer than you might realise. As well as the support and allowances mentioned already, in Rhondda Cynon Taf you’ll also get:
- Retention fee scheme: all approved Foster Wales Rhondda Cynon Taf foster carers receiving an additional allowance will receive an annual retention payment of £1,000, split into 2 x £500 over the year.
- Retainer fee: foster carer fees are protected, meaning that you will continue to receive your additional allowances for up to 3 months at times when you do not have a child in placement.
- Free leisure membership for the foster carer and their entire household, meaning unlimited use of Local Authority gyms, swimming pools and classes.
- Regular social activities and annual appreciation events for our foster families, as well as regular consultation opportunities for you to share your views. We also provide support and mentoring from experienced foster carers via our Fostering Pioneer scheme.
- A wide range of learning and development opportunities delivered in flexible ways including e-learning, podcasts, reading material and workshops, with a dedicated full time training officer just for our foster carers.
the foster wales national commitment
And that’s not all! Every Local Authority in Wales, including us, has signed up to what we call the National Commitment. This is a package of training, support and rewards that is set in stone, and that every single one of our foster carers in Wales receives. So, if you become a Foster Wales foster carer you will enjoy:
one team
Your Foster Wales Rhondda Cynon Taf team works together with social workers, teachers, healthcare professionals and everyone involved in children’s care. We’re one team, because we’re all part of the Local Authority.
You’re a central part of this team, and because of this you’ll always be included, valued and respected in everything we do – and in how we move forward.
Joining our team means joining forces with those who hold ultimate responsibility for every child looked after in Wales. It also means putting the things that matter first, because we’re proudly about people – not profit. Unlike other foster agencies, we will always help children to stay in their local area when it’s best for them. That’s what makes this team unique.
learning and development
The tools and opportunities for your development are part of the core services we offer, because helping you grow matters to us.
The framework and services we provide are consistent across the whole of Wales. This means you benefit from a shared, considered and proven support package.
We provide everything you need in order to fully meet the needs of the children in your care: training opportunities, the expertise of our team, and round-the-clock support. It’s about making sure you are confident and capable.
We keep track of your individual journey with a personal learning record and a development plan that is unique to you. This plan recognises all the valuable transferable skills and experiences you arrived to us with, and it charts a course for us to build on them. It’s a way of keeping track of all the progress you’re making, as well as planning for the future.
support
As a foster carer with Foster Wales Rhondda Cynon Taf, you’ll never feel alone. You’ll have a team beside you, with daily support and encouragement. You’ll also have a skilled and experienced professional social worker on hand to help whenever they are needed.
On top of this, you’ll have access to a range of support groups where you’ll get to know foster carers from all walks of life. Some may have experiences very similar to your own, while others might give a different perspective. It’s about sharing experiences. Peer support is available with every local Foster Wales team, and can make a world of difference.
Professional support is always available too – and not just inside office hours. We’re dedicated to working as a team with our foster carers, and that means being on hand whenever you need us, night or day.
You’ll find new communities here. People who understand. You’ll change your own life – and someone else’s.
fostering community
We stick together, through everything.
We’re your support network but also your community and your friends. We’ll invite you to regular events and activities to bring you closer to other foster families. To give you new experiences, help you form new friendships and to make memories that last.
On top of this, you’ll have access to a wealth of information and advice online. Your memberships to The Fostering Network (TFN) and the Association for Fostering and Adoption (AFA) Cymru are paid for by us. These specialist fostering organisations offer a wide range of independent support, private advice and guidance, as well as lots of additional perks. We know this is important, so that’s why it all comes as standard.
