* Jonathan Bartley: “With no employment status, no sick pay, no holiday pay, no maternity leave and no pension foster carers live in terrible insecurity and it is time they were given the basic rights everyone deserves.”
Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, has urged the Government to introduce employment status for foster carers immediately.
He made the call after news today that a group of foster carers voted to form a union for the first time ever [1].
He said:
“We stand in unity with foster carers and support wholeheartedly their decision to unionise.
“Foster carers look after some of the most vulnerable children in our society. They welcome them into their homes and families and care for them day and night with very little recognition.
“With no employment status, no sick pay, no holiday pay, no maternity leave and no pension foster carers live in terrible insecurity and it is time they were given the basic rights everyone deserves.
“There must be proper employment security if we are to create a service fit for the future and recruit the 9,000 more foster carers experts anticipate we need this year alone [2].
“We welcome the Department of Education review, but foster carers must be given these rights now. We call on the Government to introduce employment status for foster carers immediately.”
Notes:
1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37411759
2. https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/media-release-news/2016/over-9000-more-fostering-households-urgently-needed-during-2016