Support for Foster Carers

Support for Our Foster Carers

At Oakwood Fostering, we believe that when foster carers are supported, children thrive. That’s why we provide every foster parent with consistent, expert and compassionate support from day one and every day after.

Fostering can be incredibly rewarding, but it also comes with real challenges. You’re never expected to face them alone. We hand-hold our foster parents, offering practical help, emotional support and professional guidance to ensure you feel confident, connected and valued at every stage of your journey.

What you can expect from us

Your own dedicated social worker

You will be assigned a supervising social worker who knows your family and works closely with you. They provide regular supervision, offer expert advice and are your first point of contact for any support you need.

24/7 support, 365 days a year

We know questions and crises don’t stick to office hours. Our out-of-hours support is always available so you can speak to someone who understands fostering, whenever you need to.

Training that empowers you

We provide high-quality, trauma-informed training that equips you with the skills and confidence to meet the needs of every child. From your initial preparation to ongoing development, our training is practical, inspiring and flexible.

Peer support and community

You’ll be part of a connected network of foster carers who support one another through shared experiences, regular meetups and peer mentoring. Many carers find this network invaluable for encouragement, advice and friendship.

Support for your whole family

We recognise that fostering involves the whole household. We offer guidance and support to birth children, partners and extended family members so that everyone feels prepared and included.

Breaks and wellbeing

Looking after others starts with looking after yourself. We provide opportunities for planned short breaks and reflective spaces where you can pause, recharge and talk things through in confidence.

Practical, financial and emotional support

Bridging payments between placements so you never feel left behind
Clear, fair fostering allowances and guidance on entitlements
Help with appointments, school issues and family time arrangements
Emotional support during allegations, transitions, or challenging times
Celebration of your role through events, recognition and foster carer appreciation initiatives

You look after children. We look after you.

We see fostering as a shared journey and we’re in it with you, every step of the way. Our goal is to ensure you feel listened to, prepared and uplifted, so that you can offer children the safety, care and stability they need to thrive.

Want to talk to someone about the support we offer?

Contact a member of the team.