The council finally backed down and abandoned the zero hours model for our foster carers. I am exhausted from this fight but the relief for our families is everything. We won because we refused to stay quiet when the people caring for our most vulnerable children were being threatened.
February 8, 2017
Final supporters
I, the undersigned, call on Calderdale Council to stop the cuts to foster carers' terms of fostering which would essentially see them put on to a zero hours contract.
Foster carers provide one of the most fundamental roles in Calderdale in providing a loving and safe home environment for the most vulnerable children. For them to be able to continue providing this care they need to be safe in the knowledge that their income is secure.
Updates
January 24, 2017
Reaching this point in the campaign has been exhausting but deeply validating. I am weary from the fight yet seeing this level of support reminds me that we are right to demand stability for these families.
Reached 100 supporters
January 24, 2017
67 Comments
I strongly object to the payments been stopped. As a single carer l have no other income and at 53 will find it difficult to get another job so now I find at the end of the month. How can the government deny paying us less than £2 an hour!!! That's all we get as the job is 24/7 .
Foster Carers provide a vital service and as such any cut in fees and allowances may only drive them away from working with the local authority towards working through an independent fostering agency instead which in turn could have a severe negative impact on the councils financial budget.
It's disgusting treatment of foster carers who welcome other peoples children into their own home & start the healing process for them with love & care. I challenge those making the decisions to take a child into their home for 1 month & then tell me what carers should be paid!!
First we get a cut to holidays. Next there is no payment for level one Foster Carers. Then they cut your wage as soon as a child leaves. How can this attract new carers? Not to mention no increase for carers who only take one child but everyone else gets an uplift
I currently work on a zero hours contract as a respite FC and find it extremely hard to make ends meet. B aringbin mind that essential parts of the job like paper work, meetings with sw and training also take place and not time that is paid for either.
Two council members told me that the union had refused to meet the council half way ,,Megan Swjft responded with a dismissive email saying there is no way the council will go back to paying when there is no placement,my supervising social worker said lots if carers have told her that they are happy that carers are not gettin paid with no placement and they like tge new arrangement .There is also the ridiculous falsifying of information by the council saying its all about costs and all councils have had there budgets cut but tgere is a massive pot of money to increase fees for carers with more than one placement -the alternative facts of trump's Amerjca have reached Calderdale .The whole debacle is a disgrace and I wonder how Labour councillors can square their conscience with cuts to holidays ,zero hours contracts and refusal to support the unions efforts to support and represent us. Shame on everyone who has imposed this agreement on us .
It's so wrong! exploitation of workers who care for the most vulnerable.
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The council finally backed down and abandoned the zero hours model for our foster carers. I am exhausted from this fight but the relief for our families is everything. We won because we refused to stay quiet when the people caring for our most vulnerable children were being threatened.
February 8, 2017
Final supporters
I, the undersigned, call on Calderdale Council to stop the cuts to foster carers' terms of fostering which would essentially see them put on to a zero hours contract.
Foster carers provide one of the most fundamental roles in Calderdale in providing a loving and safe home environment for the most vulnerable children. For them to be able to continue providing this care they need to be safe in the knowledge that their income is secure.
Updates
January 24, 2017
Reaching this point in the campaign has been exhausting but deeply validating. I am weary from the fight yet seeing this level of support reminds me that we are right to demand stability for these families.
Reached 100 supporters
January 24, 2017
67 Comments
I am personally better off under the new contract but worried that others in danger of losing their homes when no placement and, therefore, no in income
I strongly object to the payments been stopped. As a single carer l have no other income and at 53 will find it difficult to get another job so now I find at the end of the month. How can the government deny paying us less than £2 an hour!!! That's all we get as the job is 24/7 .
Foster Carers provide a vital service and as such any cut in fees and allowances may only drive them away from working with the local authority towards working through an independent fostering agency instead which in turn could have a severe negative impact on the councils financial budget.
It's disgusting treatment of foster carers who welcome other peoples children into their own home & start the healing process for them with love & care. I challenge those making the decisions to take a child into their home for 1 month & then tell me what carers should be paid!!
First we get a cut to holidays. Next there is no payment for level one Foster Carers. Then they cut your wage as soon as a child leaves. How can this attract new carers? Not to mention no increase for carers who only take one child but everyone else gets an uplift
I currently work on a zero hours contract as a respite FC and find it extremely hard to make ends meet. B aringbin mind that essential parts of the job like paper work, meetings with sw and training also take place and not time that is paid for either.
Two council members told me that the union had refused to meet the council half way ,,Megan Swjft responded with a dismissive email saying there is no way the council will go back to paying when there is no placement,my supervising social worker said lots if carers have told her that they are happy that carers are not gettin paid with no placement and they like tge new arrangement .There is also the ridiculous falsifying of information by the council saying its all about costs and all councils have had there budgets cut but tgere is a massive pot of money to increase fees for carers with more than one placement -the alternative facts of trump's Amerjca have reached Calderdale .The whole debacle is a disgrace and I wonder how Labour councillors can square their conscience with cuts to holidays ,zero hours contracts and refusal to support the unions efforts to support and represent us. Shame on everyone who has imposed this agreement on us .
It's so wrong! exploitation of workers who care for the most vulnerable.
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I am personally better off under the new contract but worried that others in danger of losing their homes when no placement and, therefore, no in income