Could you offer a home to a child or young person?

Ivy House Fostering Agency are a distinctive agency where the carer and children are at the heart of their practice. Valuing relationships is the fundamental ethos of the fostering agency.

This inclusive, relationship-based approach is the result of a combined social work and fostering experience of more than 45 years of founders Carol Stickland, Joanne Nutton and Katie Duffield.

Ivy House, which is based in Worksop – offers competitive rates of pay as well as extensive therapeutic support, and support care, to help carers provide the highest quality care to the children they look after.

“It takes a team to raise a child, just like it takes a family, valuing relationships and working together is central to what we do,” explains Joanne. “We set up regular monthly support meetings for the team so that everyone is working together.

“We are an agency that is built on relationships. Our children get a better service when we are all working together.”

The agency, which was rated Outstanding for its leadership and management in a recent Ofsted inspection and Good overall is raising the bar for care in Derbyshire and the surrounding local authorities, for children from birth to the age of 18 and beyond.

Transferring to the agency, if you are an already established carer with children, is easier than you think.

“We know that many existing carers might be looking for better opportunities due to increases in the cost of living,” says Katie. “We can offer the best rates of pay and support as well as a flat rate of £50 a week per child for fuel allowances.

“We are a hugely experienced team and set up Ivy House Fostering Agency specifically to help children get the best matched families and the best possible care and support – and that means taking care of our foster carers.

“We have a dedicated respite support carer to offer breaks if our carers need to go away or have time out, and we’ve found this really increases placement stability by ensuring they are rested and able to give it their best.

“If you are already a foster carer or are considering fostering as a career, feel free to give us a call for an informal and completely confidential conversation about how you can join our team.”

Other benefits of fostering with Ivy House include a 24-hour support line, a therapist to work with both carers and children, comprehensive training packages tailored to meet your needs, regular coffee/support mornings for carers to get together with the team and activities and days out for its fostering community.

Anyone aged over 21 years, with a spare bedroom and able to show you have the time, space and passion for children to meet their full potential, is an ideal candidate for becoming a foster carer with Ivy House Fostering Agency.

Call Ivy House Fostering Agency on 01909 768318 or email [email protected] to find out more. For full details see here. www.ivyhousefostering.co.uk