Can you provide an emergency home for a young person when they need it the most?

Wiltshire Council is calling on Wiltshire people to consider becoming emergency foster carers – offering a warm, safe home to young people who need care and support at short notice.

Sometimes, unexpected situations arise that leave children and young people in urgent need of a safe place to stay.

Emergency foster carers step in during these critical moments, providing temporary care until a longer-term arrangement can be made. These young people may be facing uncertainty or trauma, and a foster carer’s support could make all the difference.

To recognise the vital role emergency carers play, Wiltshire Council offers £900 per week per child when a child is placed with foster carers, and £500 per week when carers are available but not currently caring for a child.

Cllr Jon Hubbard, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “We’ll support and train you to become a foster carer for some of Wiltshire’s most vulnerable children and young people. Emergency carers play a crucial role in providing short-term support, and our generous payments reflect the level of care needed. Fostering with your local council ensures that funding goes directly to frontline services, helping children stay close to their schools, friends, and families.”

Emergency foster carers should be available for a minimum of 14 nights a month. They will have a child or young person staying with them for 14 nights per month followed by a rest period of up to 14 nights where they won’t have any child/young person staying with them. Carers need to be flexible as there will be times when they may need to take a child/young person in the two weeks off period or the child may need to stay longer than anticipated.

Foster carers must be aged 21 or over and have a spare bedroom. Those fostering babies up to 12 months can use their own bedroom if space allows for a cot. Carers receive weekly payments ranging from £410 to £760 per child, depending on skills and experience, along with full training and ongoing support.

People can find out more at an upcoming fostering drop-in information session on Saturday 8 November from 4pm – 5pm. People can join online by using this link: Fostering drop-in information session

There are also face-to-face events at the following places:

• Thursday 6 November 1pm – 4pm – Emery Gate Shopping Centre, Chippenham
• Friday 7 November 5:30pm – 8:30pm – Trowbridge Rugby Club Fireworks night
• Friday 14 November 10am – 2pm – The Shires Shopping Centre, Trowbridge

More information on becoming a foster carer for your local council can be found on Fostering South West’s website at: https://www.fosterwithyourlocalcouncil.org.uk/, or you can speak directly to a member of the recruitment team via 0300 456 0120, or info@fosterwithyourlocalcouncil.org.uk. For more upcoming events in Wiltshire visit: https://fostering.wiltshire.gov.uk/fostering-events