Ready for a change of career or have a spare room? Become a foster carer with Wiltshire Council

Wiltshire Council is asking people thinking of a change of career or who have a spare room to consider fostering.

The council is keen to recruit an additional 20 foster carers in 2024 and will provide training and ongoing support with payments which reflect the importance of the role.

So what is it like to change careers and become a foster carer?

Foz has been a teacher and more recently a childminder before she decided to take on the role of a foster carer. Now with her partner El Bachir they are looking after two siblings and are finding the role to be very rewarding.

Foz explained: "I have been backwards and forwards with the idea of becoming a foster carer for a few years. I made enquiries but it was never the right time - I wanted everything to be in place and in a really good position to focus on the children themselves."

As a childminder she had excellent feedback from parents who appreciated the care and how Foz treated the children as if they were her own.

"I love working with children, I have done for 20 years. In the end I did get tired of the 8am and 6pm doorbell and so from having more children to look after to fostering for two is more relaxed and I'm loving it. The onus is on me, and the responsibility is on me 24/7 for the children.

"I just feel like I have the time and commitment to offer children and nurturing is what I do, and it comes quite naturally to me, and I have the patience and resilience to do this day in and day out.

Foz has been able to use her previous experience of dealing with trauma to look after he foster children and already she is seeing good results of her understanding approach.

For one child she is using Makaton where he can't use words and this has really helped to help him manage his feelings and communicate including asking for a drink - they have found a different way of communicating.

She explained: "I've just been trying to connect with the two boys and my focus has been on them and that is working."

"It is wonderful to work with Wiltshire Council rather than an IFA. I know the council is outstanding after the Ofsted visit and I understand the importance of that and how Ofsted scrutinise you and the work and effort that goes into that and you are local."

Her one piece of advice to people thinking of becoming foster carers: "I wish I'd done it sooner. There is training for new foster carers which will take you through everything you need. People would have to think about therapeutic and enforcement strategies and working with people with trauma before they come into foster care. If they have been a parent themselves this often helps too."

Layla worked in local government, across the police and NHS before taking the decision to be a foster carer. She has advice for people thinking of fostering: ": If considering foster care they should approach and ask for more information . "There are so many different ways you can foster and depending on commitment and family situations there are different options which may work for them.  It is always worth having that chat to see what it could look like. It's  extremely rewarding and it's great as you're affecting the lives of the people you are caring for, and their families to some degree, and it also enriches your own family life as well. It's a really positive experience."*

Cllr Laura Mayes, Cabinet Member for Children's Services said: "People from all walks of life foster with us. They often have had other careers and they have decided now is the right time to be a foster carer and make a positive difference to a child's life which is also rewarding for them as a carer. They know fostering with their local council means they will have the right payments so they can choose to foster and that there will be ongoing support and training. They will also be helping to keep a child local.

"There are many different types of fostering and I'd encourage anyone thinking about it to contact us or join one of our online information evenings and find out more without any obligations. We'd love to hear from you."

Foster carers need to be aged 21 and over and have a spare bedroom have a spare room (or you can use your own bedroom, if you have space for a cot, to foster a baby aged up to twelve months)

You need time to care for a child and a willingness seek to understand young people who have experienced trauma and loss. Fostering payments are from £400 to £740 a week, per child depending on skills and experience. 

People can join an online information session at these dates and times on this Microsoft Teams link. You should download the Teams app to join: Join conversation (microsoft.com)

Friday 6 September 1pm - 2pm

Wednesday 18 September 12noon - 1pm

Thursday 26 September 6pm - 7pm

There are also fostering team members and foster carers at these events:

Corsham Street Fair - Saturday 7 September 12noon - 4pm

Five Rivers Leisure Centre Salisbury - Wednesday  11 September 10am - 1pm

Five Rivers Leisure Centre Salisbury - Thursday 26 September 3:30pm - 6:30pm

For more information on fostering visit Fostering Home - Fostering with Wiltshire Council email fostering@wiltshire.gov.uk, call 0800 169 6321 or text the word Foster to 60002.