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 additional foster carers 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 became 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 said: “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.”


She has used her previous experience of dealing with trauma and is already 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 enjoys working with Wiltshire Council as a foster carer and appreciates the Ofsted inspection which rated Wiltshire Council Children’s Services as outstanding in December 2023.

She has advice for people thinking of fostering: “I wish I’d done it sooner. There is training for new foster carers which will take you through everything you need.”

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 this online information session to find out more. You should download the Teams app to join: Join conversation (microsoft.com)

Thursday 26 September 6pm – 7pm

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