New approach to help troubled teens launched.
Renfrewshire Council has launched a campaign to recruit a team of ‘treatment’ foster carers in a pioneering approach to help troubled teens.
Treatment fostering is a new programme proven to help young people with challenging behaviour and provide support for their families.
Central to the programme is the recruitment of the treatment foster carers who offer temporary foster placements to a young person and who have the time to work as part of a dedicated treatment team to bring about positive change for the young person and their family.
Treatment Foster Care Manager, Angie Gillies, said: “There’s no better or more rewarding challenge than helping a young person to get back on their feet.
“Anyone who understands young people and wants to make a significant difference can become a treatment foster carer.
“It’s the perfect opportunity to do something meaningful and potentially, it could be the start a new professional career.
“Our foster carers provide full time care to our young people and receive a fee equivalent to a full-time salary and allowances to meet the young person’s care needs.
“They are supported around the clock, able to take frequent breaks and are entitled to four weeks annual leave”.
Renfrewshire Council has signed up to deliver this innovative programme in partnership with East Renfrewshire Council, East and West Dunbartonshire councils, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde and the Scottish Government.
Treatment fostering was recently introduced in Scotland by Glasgow City Council. It is an evidence based model of intervention from Oregan in the USA, which has been trialled in other parts of the UK.
Councillor Iain McMillan, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Social Work, Health and Well-Being Policy Board said: “The best place for a young person to develop is with their own family. But where this isn’t safe or doesn’t meet the young person’s needs, we have a duty to provide an alternative option.
“Treatment foster care is a new initiative we want to be able to offer to young people and families in Renfrewshire. Families who could benefit from a temporary break from each other in order to recoup and rebuild their relationships.
“We therefore hope anyone who has an interest or background in helping young people comes forward to find out more information about treatment fostering”.
For more information visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/