Peridot Partners become a Fostering Friendly employer

Peridot Partners is happy to announce we are now a Fostering Friendly employer – a programme by The Fostering Network, which helps organisations to actively support fostering, and in particular, foster carer employees.

Grant Taylor, Managing Director, feels it’s important to empower families of every kind to be able to balance raising children well with the demands of work, and is delighted to commit to this policy at Peridot, making a real difference to our employees who foster, and to support others in becoming approved foster carers.

Peridot Partners offer a flexible working pattern to foster carers and those going through the application process, who can access five days of extra paid leave for their fostering commitments. These commitments may involve meetings with social workers and other agencies, attending training, settling young people into their new home and more.

The Fostering Network is the UK’s leading fostering charity. Their 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 scheme is free to join and suitable for organisations of any size – please get in touch with The Fostering Network to join the growing number of Fostering Friendly employers.”

Bill Yuksel, Foster Carer and Head of Not for Profit Appointments at Peridot Partners, says:

“From day one, Peridot has been incredibly understanding, supportive and empowering concerning the additional commitments I have as a foster carer. It’s wonderful to see the support I’ve received informally now becoming a formal part of the benefits package we offer all employees. I hope this will encourage existing colleagues to consider fostering, or those who already foster to see Peridot as an employer of choice when contemplating new opportunities.”

There’s a national shortage of 7,200 fostering households; the fostering community is open to people from all walks of life, no matter your age, gender, relationship status or sexual orientation. If you are considering fostering, please get in touch with your local fostering service to find out more.