Ref: 1467

Foster Carer

Oldham Council

Oldham / Tameside / Rochdale / Manchester

Permanent

Up to £78,000 per annum (depending on skills and experience)

Full Time

Expires 31/03/2027

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Join the Fostering Family in Oldham!

We urgently need foster carers for children and young people in Oldham.

What is fostering?

Fostering is caring for someone else’s child in your home whilst they cannot live with their own family. Children and young people need fostering for all sorts of reasons and for different lengths of time.

There are lots of different types of fostering that you can do, including:

Emergency Fostering

Providing a child with a place to go immediately, no matter what hour of a day or night.

Long-Term Fostering

Where a child or young person who cannot return home lives with the same foster carers until they reach adulthood and are ready to live independently.

Short-Term Fostering

Looking after a child or young person for anything from a few days to a couple of years.

Respite Fostering

Caring for a child or young person on a time limited basis. This can be overnight, a weekend, or a week or two at a time.

Stepping Forward to Foster Care

Providing a foster home for a child or young person who is currently living in a residential home.

Parent and Child Fostering

Providing a home for a child and their young parent.

Can I foster?

Don’t worry, there is no such thing as a typical foster carer. We need a range of carers to meet the diverse needs of all our children. We welcome enquiries from everybody irrespective of ethnicity, religion, gender, sexuality, marital or employment status or disability.

All we ask is that you are:

• over 21 years old
• have room in your home
• have the time and flexibility to be able to care for a child

What is important is you as an individual and the personal qualities you possess. We need people who are caring, patient and resilient. A sense of humour helps!

Who are the children who need foster care?

Children in foster care come from all walks of life and are of all ages, from babies through to teenagers. They are likely to have experienced difficult and sad times in their lives.

We need carers for:

• Children currently living in a residential home
• Older children, including teenagers
• Brothers and sisters who need to stay together
• Children and young people on a long-term basis
• Children with disabilities
• Children from ethnic minorities
• Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children

What support is available?

Fostering is one of the most rewarding things that you can do, but we know it can be hard at times, so we offer lots of support so that you are never on your own.

This includes:

• Competitive payments and allowances.
• One to one support with your own supervising social worker.
• First class training and a tailored support package.
• Regular newsletters, support group and lots of discounts.
• Free membership of The Fostering Network, FosterTalk and New Family Social.

Already a foster carer?

There are lots of reasons to consider transferring to Oldham. As an Oldham foster carer, you will get regular placements and foster local children and young people, closer to your home.

We also value your skills and experience, so you will receive competitive payments and allowances, plus first-class training and a tailored support package. And don’t worry, the process is quicker and easier than you think.

For more information on transferring agencies, call 0300 303 0321 or email [email protected]

How do I apply?

If you are interested in becoming a foster carer with Oldham, we would love to hear from you.

Call our friendly team on 0300 303 0321 or visit www.oldham.gov.uk/fostering to find out more.