Children’s Hearings Scotland is proud to become accredited as a Fostering Friendly employer in a programme run by the Fostering Network to help organisations actively support fostering and foster carer employees.

CHS is committed to actively support any colleague who is a foster carer or an approved kinship carer. We do this by offering flexible working arrangements that respond to their needs.

As an accredited Fostering Friendly employer, CHS values the contribution that foster carers make to society. We understand that foster carers who do other work in addition to fostering need flexibility in their working arrangements to make sure they can fulfil the needs of their fostered child.

'Bedrock of children's social care'

The Fostering Network is the UK’s leading fostering charity. Executive chair Mervyn Erskine says: ‘Becoming a Fostering Friendly employer is something to be really proud of. Foster carers are the bedrock of children’s social care – for the difference they make to the lives of children. It is important that this vital role is not only recognised, but also encouraged by their employers.  

‘By supporting existing foster carers and promoting the role to other employees, this helps to build on the thousands of extra fostering households needed in the UK, for the children who need them most.’  

The Fostering Friendly scheme is free to join and suitable for organisations of any size.

Could you be a foster carer?

Across the UK, there is a national shortage of 7,200 fostering households. Fostering is open to adults from all walks of life, no matter your age, gender, relationship status or sexual orientation.

As a Fostering Friendly employer, CHS encourages others who may be thinking about fostering to get in touch with your local fostering service to learn more.

To learn more about the benefits Children’s Hearings Scotland offer all staff, including flexible working, please visit our website. You can also discover vacancies within in our team and in your local area.