Falkirk foster carers warn cuts have 'damaging' consequences for vulnerable children

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A union representing foster carers has warned of 'damaging' consequences for vulnerable children unless Falkirk Council raise fees and reverses cuts to their holiday allowance.

The IWGB Foster Care Workers Union raised its demands over a year ago with a petition it says was signed by the majority of Falkirk Council's foster carers.But the union now says that while several councillors pledged their support at an open meeting in September 2023, since then "nothing has changed" and it has criticised the council's failure to act.

Read more: Grangemouth oil refinery closure date revealed as work begins to close plant A year on, the union - which is not officially recognised by Falkirk Council - met with councillors to put their case once again.The union claims that Falkirk Council's decision to cut foster carers’ holiday allowance by 14 days, and to impose a freeze on their fees, has led to an increasing number of foster carers leaving.Michael Lesko, a Falkirk Foster Carer added: "Without enough time to rest, carers burn out and are forced to step down from the highly demanding roles they perform.

The repercussions for vulnerable children can be seriously damaging."Falkirk Council needs to recognise the threat to local children’s futures, give carers back their holiday, and open their doors to dialogue moving forward."We left our initial meeting with councillors feeling hopeful, as those who attended all stated that they did not realise the depth of feeling amongst carers and offered their support."Since that meeting, trying to get through to the council has felt like hitting a brick wall.