Health and social care: Fostering

Could you foster?

If you have ever thought about fostering there has never been a better time to get in touch!

What is Fostering?

Fostering is helping a child or young person by looking after them in your own home, at a time when their own family is not able to. Children need fostering for all sorts of reasons and for different lengths of time.

We hope we have answered most of your questions. If you need more information, please do not hesitate to contact us. Call 0161 770 6600 or email: fostering@oldham.gov.uk

Oldham Family Link Scheme

Could you help care for a disabled child?

Oldham Family Link Scheme needs ordinary people to provide regular short term breaks for disabled children.

We are especially keen to recruit people who are able to care for a disabled child overnight and at the weekends.

For more information about Oldham Family Link please see our fact sheet Could you help to care for a disabled child? (Oldham Family Link Scheme)

If you would like more information about how Oldham Family Link could support your family please see our fact sheet Would you like support to care for your disabled child? (Oldham Family Link Scheme)

For more information visit Oldham Family Link Scheme

Information available to download:

Thinking of fostering?

For more information about becoming a foster carer, please see our fostering leaflet.

Children and young people in foster care

If you are a child being fostered, please see our children's fact sheet: I am going to be fostered - what does this mean? (Under 11s)

If you are a young person being fostered, please see our young person's fact sheet: I am going to be fostered - what does this mean? (Over 11s)

Foster carers

The foster carers handbook is designed to be a good practice guide for foster carers, both new and established. It gives helpful guidance and information on day to day practice and the department’s policies and procedures: The Foster Carers Handbook

Private fostering

You may alternatively be privately fostering a child or young person. Private fostering is a private agreement between a parent and another adult to care for a child or young person for 28 days or more. The other adult is not a relative of the child like an uncle or a grandparent and has no parental responsibility. Private fostering only applies to children under 16 or under 18 if the young person is disabled We have a number of fact sheets about private fostering:

If you are a child or young person being privately fostered please see our fact sheet Facts 4 U 2 Private Fostering Information for Children Families and Carers