Fostering support

You'll be assigned a dedicated supervising social worker who provides regular visits, support, and guidance tailored to your specific needs and circumstances.

You'll have access to our highly skilled therapists and will be supported by our team of fostering support workers. We work closely with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) and placement therapists to provide high-quality training, development, and therapeutic support for foster carers. Placement therapists offer one-to-one consultations and group-based sessions, focusing on strengthening the stability of relationships between children, their fostering families, and their wider support network.

We offer a variety of local training opportunities, so you won't have to travel far, making it more convenient for you. Additionally, we provide online courses to further support and enhance the development of foster carers.

We recognise that fostering is a professional role. Therefore, in addition to our comprehensive training package, we provide our foster carers with continuous professional development opportunities and workshops, enabling them to tailor their learning to their own needs and those of the children in their care. These opportunities also include access to nationally recognised Diplomas in Foster Care.

'Getting to know fostering' group

This is a group for applicants who are in assessment. The meetings are held monthly, supported by guest speakers and foster carers.

'First steps in fostering' group

Our First Steps in Fostering support group runs monthly and is designed for new carers in their first two years of fostering. It's a friendly, informal group where carers can share their experiences and build relationships with one another. Each session features guest speakers covering a variety of topics, such as:

• Supporting a child or young person when they first come to live with you

• Understanding different social worker roles

• Finance and tax information

• An introduction to Branches and other support groups

• The role of Placement Support Therapists

New carers find comfort in connecting with others at a similar stage in their fostering journey, knowing they're not alone and that support is always at hand

'Foundations for attachment' group

The Foundations for Attachment group helps carers to look more in depth into caring for children who have experienced trauma, helping carers understand how trauma affects a child's responses to life experiences. The group also highlights the importance of self-care, reminding carers that looking after themselves is essential for being able to support the children in their care. Many carers form strong bonds during the sessions, with friendships often continuing beyond the course

'Reflect and connect' group

The Reflect and Connect group allows carers to explore certain situations they are finding difficult and how it also might be affecting them. It is a safe space to gives carers time to reflect and think, with other carers, who may also have found themselves in similar situations, which may help.

At Wiltshire Council, we're dedicated to supporting our foster carers and the children they care for. That's why we've introduced the Mockingbird family model. It helps create a strong, supportive community, like an extended family, where kids can stay with their foster families longer and everyone can build lasting relationships. With this model, foster families get extra support, social opportunities, and even sleepovers (when appropriate).

Branches is a group for the children of foster carers and connected carers, aged 7 to 18 years old. The aim is to give your children the chance to connect with others from fostering and connected families and take part in fun activities. These free events provide a safe space where children can have fun, make new friends, explore new activities, and share their experiences with others.

We offer round-the-clock support to our foster carers, ensuring that help and advice are always available whenever you need it. An on-call fostering social worker is available until midnight every day. From midnight to 9am you'll be able to telephone children's out of hours support. 

• Access to Wiltshire Rewards and Blue Light card, offering discounts at shops, restaurants, cinemas, and activities. 
• Free swimming and court hire; and significant discounts on classes and gym memberships at Wiltshire Council Leisure Centres. 
• Christmas and summer parties.