A meeting of West Lothian Council Executive was updated on the progress of the new service which is being established following a review into fostering and adoption services in the area.
The creation of the new Family Based Care Service will see the current Family Placement Team replaced with the new service overseeing fostering, intensive fostering, short breaks for children with disabilities and internal adoption practices in West Lothian.
A key aim of the new service is to try and ensure children and young people are able to remain in West Lothian and close to their established local networks, allowing them to maintain the relationships that are important to them.
The development of the Family Based Care Service has been underpinned by extensive benchmarking with other local authorities and care services across the country alongside ongoing engagement with local foster carers, young people, families and workers within the current service.
One person who knows what it takes to provide support for young people is Nichola Steedman who has been an approved foster carer for West Lothian Council for almost 25 years.
She began her fostering career at the same time as raising her own children, so it has always been a busy household. Over the course of these years she has supported more than 100 children and young people by working alongside their families and the professionals around them. This has involved supporting children to return home to their families or extended family networks, supporting permanence plans, caring for young people until they move onto independent living ensuring they are each provided with the love, care and support to meet their individual needs.
Nichola said: "Providing care and support as a foster carer has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. All children have a right to a home and deserve love and support to help them be all they can be.
"It is not without its challenges but working together with my family, we always find a way to ensure we are providing the right support. I know the team at West Lothian Council are always looking for more people to work with and I would encourage anyone who has ever looked into fostering or adoption to get in touch with the team today. That one conversation could lead to changing the life of a young person for the better."
Executive Councillor for Social Work and Health, Anne McMillan recently met with Nichola and staff behind the new service.
Councillor McMillan said: "The development of the new service is a positive step for our care experienced children and young people in West Lothian. These new approaches will better support our vulnerable young people to achieve better outcomes and enable the provision of the right support at the right time for children, young people and families.
"I'd like to personally thank Nichola and her family for the invaluable support and dedication they have demonstrated over the years. The service is forever keen to work with anyone in West Lothian who can help ensure a young person gets the right care for them. If you are interested in any way, please don't hesitate and get in touch today."
You can find out all there is to know about getting involved in fostering and adoption care in West Lothian by visiting the Family Based Care Service's brand-new website: https://fosteringandadoption.westlothian.gov.uk/
If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a care provider whether it's fostering, adoption or by providing a short break for a young person, please get in touch with the team today by emailing FamilyBasedCareService@westlothian.gov.uk or calling 01506 284296.
