Fostering is a way of providing family-based care for children who cannot live with their parents or other family. It is also about caring for a child in your own home usually on a temporary basis.
Fostering allows children to be cared for as part of a family in a way that meets their individual needs. Having a choice of foster families will allow the best match to be made in order to meet the individual needs of the child. For more information about fostering with us please see our information pack or watch footage of Wiltshire foster carers talking about their experiences in our fostering video.
Find out about fostering
During foster care fortnight – 14 to 27 May 2012 the council is hosting live web chats and a number of information sessions around the county where people can find out more about fostering.
Wiltshire foster carers will be available to answer questions via live web chats every evening during foster care fortnight from 7pm to 8pm.
- Join in the live chat for fostering week 14 - 20 May 2012
- Join in the live chat for fostering week 21 - 27 May 2012
Drop in sessions are being held between 5.30pm and 8.30pm at the following locations and dates:
| Date | Location |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 22 May | Salisbury City Hall |
| Thursday 24 May | The Olympiad Leisure Centre, Chippenham |
| Friday 25 May | Devizes Leisure Centre |
An information stand will also be at the play day event at Trowbridge Town Park on Saturday 26 May from 11am to 4pm.
If you are interested in becoming a foster carer please contact the fostering team who will be happy to answer any questions you may have
Consider fostering to make a positive difference to a child!
In Wiltshire over 400 children and young people are looked after by Wiltshire Council. Nearly 77% of these children and young people live with foster families. Foster carers are people who look after these children.
Fostering is community based, often allowing children to stay in their local area, to attend their local school and to keep in touch with their friends.
Most children who live with foster carers do so temporarily while Children’s Services work with their parents to help resolve their problems, however some children do not return to their families and may live with foster carers in the longer term or until an adoptive family is found for them.
What you will need
All kinds of people can become foster carers:
- Men and women regardless of sexual orientation
- Married, single or living with a partner
- Childless
- Able-bodied or living with a disability
- Living with your own children, step children or without children
- In work, unemployed or retired
- Living in your own home or renting
- From any cultural, ethnic or social background
What's important is that you have the space in your home and in your life, a good sense of humour, tolerance, understanding, enthusiasm and the motivation to make a positive difference to young people's lives.
If I am interested in becoming a foster carer, what should I do next?
To apply please complete the Fostering Online Application Form or email us at fostering@wiltshire.gov.uk or ring our recruitment hotline on 0800 169 6321 where a member of the fostering team will be very happy to help.
More information
Please go to Frequently Asked Questions for more information.
Contact Details (LiveLink)
Multiple Contacts:
eMail: fostering@wiltshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 01225 715555
Out of hours:
Fax: 01225 755196
Postal Address:
In Person:
DX:
Related information
Related documents
Fostering statement of purpose Related links
- Everything you need to know about Fostering
- Fostering Online Application Form
- BAAF Adoption and Fostering
- Barnardos
- Kidscape
- DCSF - Choice Protects
Last updated: 14 May 2012
Join us on Facebook
Join us on Twitter