Increasing support for Royal Borough of Greenwich staff who are foster carers

The Royal Borough of Greenwich is now a Fostering Friendly Employer, helping council staff balance foster caring and work responsibilities. 

The new Fostering Friendly policy allows for a more flexible working pattern to staff who are foster carers or are in the process of becoming one. They can now access up to five days extra paid leave for their fostering commitments, which can be used flexibly across their fostering journey. This includes initial training and panel attendance as well as ongoing responsibilities like review meetings and training. 

Councillor Adel Khaireh, Cabinet Member Children and Young People, said: “Becoming a Fostering Friendly Employer is a great way to reemphasise our commitment to supporting foster carers. Royal Greenwich is currently home to 417 young people in our care, and there is a real need to grow our fostering community. What better way is there to do so than to make it easier for our own colleagues to foster through this new policy.” 

Councillor Denise Hyland, Cabinet Member Finance, Resources and Social Value, said: “As a council, we already offer a range of benefits for fostering in Royal Greenwich, and I’m glad we’re able to offer even more support to our colleagues who foster. 

“All our colleagues are already corporate parents in our roles as council staff, meaning we have a responsibility to look after children in our care. This new scheme will help us build on that responsibility by giving staff the tools they need to balance their foster caring duties with work.” 

Could you foster with the Royal Borough of Greenwich?  

As a foster carer, you can play an important role in a young person’s life by giving them a safe, secure and loving home. We urgently need more foster carers to provide children and young people with a safe and caring home while they're unable to live with their own families. Learn more about becoming a foster carer at royalgreenwich.gov.uk/fostering. 

You can also find career opportunities with our Fostering Friendly accredited council at royalgreenwich.gov.uk/careers.