Lancashire County Council Fostering Friendly Policy

Introduction

Lancashire County Council values the vital role foster carers play in our community and in the lives of children in care. As an employer we are committed to supporting staff who are foster carers, kinship carers, or are considering fostering, by offering flexibility, fostering leave and encouragement throughout their journey. 

Our commitment

• Promotion – we actively promote fostering to all new and existing staff. New employees will be asked how they can support our children, and a fostering assessment will be offered at the point of employment.

• Engagement – fostering opportunities and information will be shared regularly through internal communications. Each directorate will appoint a Senior Leader to champion fostering initiatives.

• Events – regular recruitment events will be held for staff. Managers will support staff attendance where service delivery allows.

• External providers – all contracts with external providers will include a commitment to promote fostering for Lancashire.

• Support – we support all staff who are foster carers or approved kinship carers, including those in the process of becoming carers, by offering fostering leave and the ability to work flexibly wherever possible. 

Scope

The fostering leave and flexible working provisions set out in this policy apply to all LCC employees, excluding teaching and non-teaching staff employed by schools, who are:

• Applying to become foster carers.

• Approved foster carers.

• Approved mainstream or kinship foster carers currently providing a home to a child (or have done so for at least 75% of the previous 12 months) or offer flexible fostering arrangements (e.g., short breaks, weekend fostering). 

Fostering leave

Paid fostering leave is available in any 12-month period as follows (this is pro rata for part-time employees):

1. Prospective Lancashire County Council foster carers: Up to 5 days (37 hours) paid leave for training and assessment relating to their fostering application.

2. Approved foster carers for Lancashire County Council: Up to 15 days (111 hours) paid leave for training, meetings, urgent care, and fostering responsibilities.

3. Approved foster carers for Lancashire County Council for less than 75% of the year and who are not kinship carers: Up to 5 days (37 hours) paid leave for training, meetings, urgent care, and fostering responsibilities.

4. Non-Lancashire County Council foster carers: Up to 5 days (37 hours) paid leave for training and meetings relating to their fostering application/assessment or approved foster carer role.

For queries on which type of leave applies, contact the Fostering Service at fosteringrdsdevelopmentteamduty@lancashire.gov.uk.

Requesting fostering leave

Requests for fostering leave should be submitted on Oracle Fusion by selecting the 'fostering leave' absence type and specifying the amount of leave being requested.

If leave is requested that exceeds the fostering leave entitlement employees and managers should discuss what other options are available.

Managers are encouraged to support requests for fostering leave wherever possible, especially for urgent fostering needs. 

Flexible working

As an employer we are proud to embrace flexible working that is focused on work outcomes and quality. Our Working Flexibly Policy and Procedure is available to all employees and sets out the range of options that are available and the process by which requests for flexible working can be made and how they will be considered.

We are committed to supporting foster carers and prospective foster carers and will support requests to work flexibly where these can be accommodated operationally.

More details can be found in our Working Flexibly Policy and Procedure.