Henley foster carers share their experience during Foster Care Fortnight

Residents are being encouraged to consider becoming foster carers for Oxfordshire County Council in a campaign marking Foster Care Fortnight, 11 - 24 May 2026.

Tracy Hinton and Sarah Black, from the Henley area, are therapeutic foster carers; they are sharing their experience of making a difference to young people in the hope that others will feel motivated to follow in their footsteps, either as mainstream foster carers or in a more specialist therapeutic role.

Therapeutic fostering involves supporting children who need some extra care and stability in their placements because they have had a difficult start in life.

Tracy also works with children who are neurodiverse. Fostering has always been something she wanted to pursue alongside this work, and her experience meant she was well placed for a journey into mainstream foster care before later moving into the niche role of therapeutic.

Tracy said: “I love both the challenge and emotional reward, playing an important part in developing these young people’s self-esteem, belief and understanding in overcoming and managing their emotions.”

Sarah was working as a mental health nurse manager in Oxfordshire before fostering. This type of care work was an ideal background and, like Tracy, she began with mainstream foster care before taking a similar route into her therapeutic fostering role.

Sarah said: “The therapeutic approach was particularly meaningful to me because it prioritises understanding the root causes of a child’s behaviour and providing appropriate care and responses. The support received from the wider Oxfordshire County Council team is invaluable and I really enjoy this work.

“Seeing its positive effects motivates me to continue helping young people overcome difficult early experiences in this way."

Tracy and Sarah receive training and support from Oxfordshire County Council’s therapeutic fostering team, giving them a deeper understanding of the psychology behind children’s behaviour and how to respond with empathy and confidence.

Therapeutic foster care provides a wraparound service for each child, with carers playing an active and valued role at the heart of a wider council support team.

One young person who was supported by the therapeutic fostering team had struggled emotionally and lacked confidence following multiple disrupted experiences in their early upbringing.

Tracy said: “Through the regular and consistent care we gave, with a strong therapeutic approach, gradually we connected with the child. Trust was built, slowly they came out of their shell, a personality started to shine through, and they were in a better place emotionally to enjoy life and make the most of their future.

“It was quite a slow process, which is understandable, but patience brings its rewards, and that’s what we both love about fostering and why by sharing our story we hope more people in Oxfordshire will consider giving it a go.”

Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Young People’s Services, said: “Tracy and Sarah are role models, along with our other 146 approved fostering families.

“Through care and dedication, they make a big difference to the lives of children who, for various reasons, need to be cared for outside of their own family. I admire and congratulate each and every one of our dedicated foster carers.

“Our foster care service is not for profit, and where possible we are committed to keeping children and young people near to their birth families, friends and schools.”

Oxfordshire County Council’s foster carers receive:

• Generous fees, paid in addition to the child’s allowance, based on experience and skills.
• Dedicated social worker support.
• Access to professionals involved with the child/children, linked with support groups and specialised training.

For further information about becoming a foster carer, visit oxfordshire.gov.uk/fostering, email fostering@oxfordshire.gov.uk or phone  0800 783 5724.

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