Double act for twins at fostering agency (From Surrey Comet)

Double act for twins at fostering agency

3:30pm Tuesday 14th February 2012 in News

Twin sisters Hannah and Lauren Crawford, 17, had the chance of working and learning together when they were offered apprenticeships with a fostering agency.

The girls had already completed a Level 2 Legal Secretary Diploma at Bromley College when Martin Gilboy, director of independent agency Fostering Outcomes, contacted the college seeking two students to join the busy agency as apprentices. Martin said: “From a business perspective it is cost-effective employment.

“But there are other merits to employing young apprentices; they don’t have pre-conceived ideas and as a fostering agency naturally we work to invest something positive in the futures of young people.Having apprentices reflects this ethos.”

Martin added: “When you employ an apprentice, you have to be able to commit to training them.

“You cannot see them as cheap labour – they are here to learn and grow as well as to perform a function.”

The sisters change roles each month to broaden their experiences. This month, Hannah is working with Julie, a national placement officer. She learns to upload referrals, to use the company systems and about ways to communicate with local authorities.

Lauren currently works in an administrative role. This involves uploading data, making diary entries and answering reception phone calls.

Julie has high hopes for the 17-year-olds.

“Eventually I would like to see them both making a First Stage Match,” she said. “This involves matching locations with the available care, and begins the fostering approval process.”

Hannah said of the job opportunity: “Since becoming apprentices, Lauren and I have been given a range of experiences; it has helped us to mature. I would definitely recommend an apprenticeship to anyone.”

Lauren said the apprenticeship offers each of them a greater level of responsibility.

“I have found that being out and working I have learnt so much more than I did at school,” she said.

Each week the girls spend one day at Bromley College.

The apprenticeship scheme is individually tailored to the needs of the young employees. They spend an hour studying maths and the rest of the day developing their knowledge in their NVQ subject – business and administration.

Their fixed year course ends in September. Although Martin cannot say whether the agency will offer the girls further employment, he explained that the company would ‘look favourably on them’, describing the girls as a credit to their parents.

Following Lauren and Hannah joining the Chislehurst-based team, Fostering Outcomes has made moves towards employing apprentices in its Darlington and Swansea offices.