Could you foster? - Come and meet the team
A series of public information events hosted by the council’s recruitment team is being held as part of Foster Care Fortnight (June 1 to 14) for anyone interested in finding out more.
Foster carers provide a range of placements from emergency and short-term to long-term and specialist placements. The council would like to attract more local foster carers - particularly people willing to care for brothers and sisters, teenagers and children with special needs - to enable them to remain in-county and maintain links with their families.
The council offers excellent training, support and allowances to foster carers and would welcome enquiries from potential applicants who can call 0800 7835724, find out more online or email
Information events:
- Thursday, June 4, 6.30-8pm:
Abingdon Health & Wellbeing Centre, Audlett Drive, Abingdon, OX14 3GD
- Wednesday, June 10, 6.30-8pm:
County Hall, New Road, Oxford, OX1 1ND
- Thursday, June 11, 12-2.30pm:
Witney Hub, Witan Way, Witney, OX28 4YA
The recruitment team and foster carers will be on hand to answer questions and to provide further information about fostering with Oxfordshire County Council.
‘Have a conversation’
The council's Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Familes Melinda Tilley said: “Many people will already know someone who fosters or have other links to fostering.
“It might be family members, friends, neighbours or colleagues who foster. Others may have been fostered themselves or work to support children and young people in foster care.
“We’re urging people to have a conversation about this hugely important role in society and for those who have not previously considered fostering to ask themselves whether they could change a child’s life.”
Some fostering facts:
- To become a foster carer you have to be over 18
- Single? Not a problem - children need stable loving homes with single parents or couples, whatever your gender or sexual orientation
- There are children from many different backgrounds needing to be fostered. What is important is that you can meet the needs of the child
The children:
- Teenagers – 50 per cent of children in care in Oxfordshire are 12 years and over
- Sibling groups - we aim to place together rather than apart
- Babies and toddlers – need to be placed with foster carers who are at home full-time
- Children with specialist fostering needs – who are our most vulnerable children and are part of our specialist fostering schemes
- Short Breaks – offering help and support to a family and their disabled child