Across Greater Manchester we are committed to creating an environment for foster carers that is built on refreshingly honest communication and unwavering support. We know fostering can be challenging and we recognise the invaluable contribution made by our community of foster carers to provide safe, nurturing homes for Greater Manchester’s children in care.

Our pledge is to foster a culture based on trust and loyalty that is caring, respectful and responsive to the needs of our foster carers.

On Thursday 12 October, leaders from all ten councils across Greater Manchester will be coming together at Manchester Central Library to publicly sign the fostering promise. Led by the Mayor of GM, Andy Burnham, the event will see the promise officially launched across the city region.

• We answer questions honestly and tell it straight (with no soft soap), because our foster carers deserve to be empowered with knowledge.
• We are open about what the role of foster carer involves when recruiting, and how the assessment process works, so there are no nasty surprises.
• As far as we are able, we give relevant information up front on the children we are asking you to care for, so you can better meet their needs.
• We are quick to admit and rectify our mistakes.

• We have your back!
• We are fiercely protective of our valued foster carers and loyally champion your role in the care sector.
• We respect you as valued professional members of the team around the child with the skills to be formidable advocates for the children in your care.
• We see you as experts on the child/ren in your care and we want you to be included in all relevant meetings where planning and decision making affect them.
• We respect foster carers as colleagues and professionals.
• We value foster carers’ skills and expertise equally to those of other professionals.

• We prioritise practical and emotional support for our foster carers, cared for children and those going through the process of becoming foster carers.
• From enquiry to application, we will not pressurise or hassle you, because we know that when making such a big life decision you do not want to be ‘sold to’ or made to feel guilty.
• Once approved we want the best possible start for our new foster carers, so we support you every step of the way with a welcoming and robust on-boarding experience.
• We know fostering can be an isolating, challenging role so we put our trust in all our foster carers and help to facilitate you to support each other. 

• We strongly believe foster carers should have opportunities to learn and develop throughout their career.
• We will work with you on an individual training plan that plays to your strengths and helps you grow your skills and experience as a foster carer.
• We only work with trainers who understand fostering and can deliver appropriate, accessible, and relevant training to our foster carers and their families.