New Fostering Hub to help more children stay close to home
A new partnership to find more foster carers for children across North London has officially launched. Six councils will work together to help more young people grow up in safe, stable and loving homes close to the people and places that matter most to them.
The North London Fostering Hub, led by Camden Council, brings together Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey and Islington councils to recruit, support and retain foster carers across the region.
The Hub is part of the Government's national fostering reform programme and aims to make it easier for people to learn about fostering, access support throughout the application process and receive ongoing training and guidance once they become foster carers.
Every child deserves the chance to grow up in a loving home where they feel safe, supported and able to thrive. The North London Fostering Hub is all about working together to make that possible for more children.
By joining forces across six boroughs, we can reach more people who may be considering fostering, better support the incredible foster carers we already have and help ensure more children can stay close to their friends, schools and local communities.
We're proud that Camden is leading this partnership and delighted to welcome colleagues from across the country for the first gathering of Regional Fostering Hubs as we share ideas and learn from one another.
Regional partnerships to strengthen fostering services
This week, Camden welcomed representatives from fostering hubs across England and Minister for Children and Families, Josh MacAlister, for the first national gathering of Regional Fostering Hubs.
The event encouraged shared learning, reflections on best practice and discussions on how regional partnerships can strengthen fostering services for children and families.
Children's Minister, Josh MacAlister, said:
"Fostering changes lives, not just for the children who finally get the stability and love every child deserves, but for the carers themselves, who tell us it's one of the most rewarding things they've ever done. Right now, thousands of children need that chance, and that’s exactly what our national campaign is about: cracking fostering open to ordinary people across England who have the values, the commitment, and the love to foster.”
By working together, the six boroughs hope to attract more foster carers from a wide range of backgrounds and ensure more children can stay connected to their schools, families, friends and communities.
The launch builds on more than a decade of successful collaboration through the North London Fostering and Permanency Consortium and marks an important new chapter in support for children in care across the capital.
As lead authority for the North London Fostering Hub, Camden is playing a key role in shaping the development of the regional model and supporting the Government's ambition to strengthen fostering services nationwide.
The national gathering provided an opportunity to reflect on early progress, exchange ideas and discuss how local authorities can work together to improve fostering services.
Fostering can fit alongside different careers and lifestyles
Homa has been a foster carer in North London for over 8 years. 
She has looked after lots of children including groups of siblings. She said:
“Being a foster parent keeps me active and gives me energy, and I cannot imagine doing anything more rewarding. I know that I am able to give the children I look after a calm, safe and loving home and they bring the heart into my family.
“Fostering is not an isolated role - the children I look after have me, but they are very much part of my larger extended family. I also have the support of a professional group of people, but importantly, a wide network of other foster parents working together.
“I would like to encourage people to consider fostering as there are lots of children in North London who need the safety and security but need to stay in the community in which they are familiar. It is about finding the right match and recognising that fostering can fit alongside different careers and lifestyles.”
Could you foster?
Misconceptions still persist around the type of person who can foster and how fostering can fit into everyday life, with 43% believing fostering is incompatible with working full time and three in ten (30%) believing previous childcare experience or qualifications are required.
The North London Fostering Hub is encouraging people from all backgrounds to consider fostering and find out more about the difference they could make to a child's life.
To learn more about becoming a foster carer, visit www.fosternorthlondon.gov.uk or call 020 7974 0125.