// John Lewis Partnership offers new and existing foster carers within its company additional paid leave
// The retailer has received a Foster Friendly accreditation via the Fostering Network for its ongoing support to care experienced people
John Lewis Partnership is to offer additional paid leave to all new and existing foster carers within its business.
From today, John Lewis and Waitrose partners will receive an additional week of leave as the high street stalwart looks to strengthen its commitment to support care experienced people.
The Partnership has also become the largest organisation to receive Foster Friendly employer accreditation from the Fostering Network.
The accolade comes seven months after the retailer launched its Building Happier Futures programme to support the care experience community.
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John Lewis chair Sharon White said: “We are incredibly proud to be giving even more support to our Partners who are foster carers.
“They will now qualify for an additional week of paid leave, meaning they will have more flexibility to balance all the things they need to be great foster carers – attending appointments or undertaking training.
“We are delighted to be playing our part to support foster carers as part of a broader programme of helping care experienced young people to get access to jobs and training in the Partnership.”
Last week, the retailer revealed it had teamed up with online safety organisation Internet Matters to train staff to become experts in family technology and offer specialist advice on internet safety.
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