Press Release

17 January 2008

Fostering in South Eastern Trust

The new Fostering teams at the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust are appealing for more foster carers in this area.

“We need to find foster carers who could care for children full time either short or long term,” says Kate Anderson, Senior Manager for Fostering and Adoption. Stressing the important role foster carers play in the lives of children who cannot for various reasons live with their birth family, Kate says, “The South Eastern Trust is committed to providing emotional and practical support and training to all our foster carers to enable them to meet the needs of the children in their care. It’s impossible to overstate the importance of the vital job the carers do in helping these children at a time of distress.”

Pat Leinster is the Assistant Principal Social Worker for Fostering and echoing Kate’s sentiments she added, “Throughout the new Trust area we continue to have a shortage of foster carers, especially those who could enable brothers and sisters to be cared for within the same family. At present we have a number of children who have had to be placed apart from their brothers or sisters. If there is anyone who feels they could open their home to these children we would love to hear from you. We will provide you with on-going training, support and foster care allowances to enable you to care for the children.”

If you feel you would be interested in hearing more about what fostering involves please contact the fostering team at Bangor, 028 9127 0672; Downpatrick 028 4461 3511 or Lisburn 028 9260 7528, or you can ring Freecall 0500 827558.

For more information contact Christina Martin 028 9250 1209 or 07841 970653 (Down Lisburn end) or Joan McCallan 028 9151 2208 or 07803 210205 (Ulster Community & Hospitals end)