Tommy Arthur sailed the seven seas as a ship’s painter, but now he’s brushing up on his parenting skills.
For Tommy has embarked on a new career as a foster carer and he reckons that others should do the same.
The 41-year-old from Slaemuir Avenue, Port Glasgow is one of the first foster carers to be selected as part of a new fostering programme, which pays a professional allowance, gives training towards a nationally-recognised qualification and provides professional support.
Now Tommy and his wife, Linda, 39, will be looking after a 13-year-old boy who has been placed with the couple through the Intensive Fostering Service run by Kibble Education and Care Centre, in Paisley.
As Foster Care Fortnight (May9 – May 22) gets underway, Tommy said: “I come from a very large extended family – my grandmother has more than 100 grandchildren and great-grandchildren – so I’m used to having a lot of children around me although I don’t have any of my own.
“I have a nephew, Kevin, who used to spend so much time with Linda and me that he had a room of his own in our house so he could stay whenever he wanted. But Kevin’s now growing up, in his late teens and doing his own thing, so we don’t see as much of him as we used to.”
Linda runs her own successful window blinds business in Port Glasgow – Euro Blinds – and after working for the company for a few years, Tommy decided he’d like to try a new career.
Tommy explains: “When I was younger I worked on ships, ports and shipyards all over the world and then had a spell with Euro Blinds. But I always had the idea that I wanted to work in social care and with young people.
“And last year I saw a story in the Greenock Telegraph about the Intensive Fostering Service programme and decided to give it a go. It’s a fantastic opportunity for people, as it pays a realistic fee, gives you training for a qualification and there’s plenty of help and support.
“We’re really looking forward to the youngster we are foster carers to coming to stay with us. It gives you a lot of satisfaction that you can give a youngster an alternative to what might be living in a residential care home.”
“Foster carers also give youngsters the chance to experience the love, care and attention they will get being part of a family.”
Intensive Fostering Services project manager Kay Gibson said: “Being a professional foster carer is now a positive career choice. And m en have an important caring role to fulfil in society that is not being realised to its full potential.”
“All types of families from all walks of life be they couples with or without children, single carer households male or female, employed, self-employed and unemployed people have important skills to offer and can fulfil this important role in positively shaping the future of our children and young people.”
The Intensive Fostering Service offers professional fees to foster carers of between £23,500 up to almost £25,000 per annum, plus either £8,625 or £10,715 age related maintenance allowance per annum, up to 28 days paid respite a year and the chance to train for a nationally recognised social care qualification.
This Kibble fostering service is unique, as not only is foster care organised, but the boys - between the ages of 12 and 18 - will also go to school at Kibble and the care centre can also organise leisure activities for them. For an information pack and more details about the Intensive Fostering Service please complete the enquiry form on-line at www.kibblefostering.org or phone 0141 842 3330.