Wiltshire Council is asking foster carers to lend a hand in the early days

Wiltshire Council is calling for more people to come forward as foster parents and children and enjoy the “most amazing feeling in the world” of putting families on the right path to independent living.

Louise and Brad have been growing up for just under 30 years, caring for a number of children and young people and having a positive impact on their lives.

They introduced themselves as foster parents and children because they wanted to do something different and use their skills. They provided foster care support for two successful parents and children and still keep in touch. They recently attended the wedding of one of their parents and their children.

Louise explained: “The parent and child intake is intensive but it’s for 12 weeks and once you’re done you have a break. It’s a very steep learning curve. We did two placements and both successfully returned home and stay in touch.”

Louise and Brad help the parent develop the skills to take on the parenting role independently. They take great pride in the way they have contributed to helping a parent create a happy home for their child. They promoted both mother and father and mother and child placements.

They support the parent to carry out essential tasks to be able to care for the child independently. One of the challenges is staying back and making sure the parent can take care of the child on their own.

While Louise cooked for them for the first two weeks, she then encouraged them to manage their budget responsibly and take on responsibilities, including childcare and household chores. Teaching life skills, including making them keep their house clean and making sure they wash their sheets and bedding.

She advises, “You have to have a mindset that this is going to work. I would say it’s the most amazing feeling in the world when you take them back to their own apartment and their family, there’s no feeling in the world that matches how proud you are just seeing them go home as a family.

“It’s amazing – there’s no greater joy. You’re so pleased when they change the diaper, put everything away and look at you and say ‘yes, I’ve got this’ and you think ‘yes, you do’, that makes it worth it.”

Cllr Laura Mayes, Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for children’s services, said: “We need more parents and foster carers to join us. We’ll provide ongoing support and training so you’re not alone. Fostering with your local council means that all the money goes into fostering. We make sure you have good support and training, and our payments to foster carers reflect the importance we place on the role.”

Payments for parents and child carers are from £1,020 per week for one parent and one child.

For more information visit Fostering Home – Fostering with Wiltshire Council, email [email protected], call 0800 169 6321 or text the word investment TO 60002.