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These informal and relaxed online sessions provide you with the chance to learn more about this incredibly rewarding career. Book onto an upcoming event below and we will send you details of how to join.
Fostering in Oxford
Start your therapeutic fostering journey in Oxford with ISP. With our continuous support and expert training, you'll have the tools you need to help children flourish in your care.
Become a therapeutic foster parent in Oxford
At ISP, our therapeutic approach has evolved over 35 years, transforming the lives of hundreds of children and young people.
We know that many young people in foster care have faced difficult early experiences, which, as a result, has left them with trauma that deeply impacts their daily lives.
Although we can't erase their past experiences, our therapeutic approach is built to help them find a route to healing and recovery in safe, supportive homes.
Download information pack
If you're interested in fostering, then download our information pack to discover everything you need to know about becoming a foster parent with ISP.
Wrap-around support for therapeutic foster parents
As a foster parent, your commitment will change young lives, and we are committed to ensuring you feel confident, capable and truly valued with our wrap-around support package, which includes:
- A dedicated social worker - Your social worker will offer advice, guidance, and personalised support for you and the children in your care.
- In-house experts - Our therapists, fostering advisors, teachers, and other professionals will provide expert knowledge and empower you in your role.
- 24/7 helpline - Day or night, you can rely on our helpline for support, reassurance, or a listening ear whenever needed.
- Local foster parent support groups - Connect with other Oxford foster parents who truly understand the joys and challenges of fostering. Our groups offer a community of peers to lean on and learn from.
- City & Guilds Therapeutic Pathway Programme - Our training and development opportunities will equip you with valuable therapeutic skills to support children in care at every stage of their healing journey.
- Personalised therapy programmes - Each child in your care will receive an individualised therapy plan to support their emotional and developmental needs.
- Knowledge hub - Instant access to a wealth of therapeutic resources, including topics like the secure base model, PACE parenting, and attachment theory, all at your fingertips.
- I-SPACE hub - A quick and easy way to access essential policies, handbooks, and other vital resources.
Oxford fostering allowances
Therapeutic fostering demands patience, compassion, and a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by young people in care.
To help you in this crucial role, we offer a generous fostering allowance and a range of additional benefits, allowing you to focus on the well-being and healing of the children you care for. As you progress in your fostering career, you can also earn more by completing our Senior Grade Pathway Programme.
As an ISP foster parent, you'll enjoy a range of extra perks, including:
- Special allowances for summer activities and holidays
- Funding for new school uniforms
- Up to 22 nights of respite care each year
- Access to exclusive discounts through our foster parent rewards platform
- A calendar full of local events, activities, and celebrations, offering chances to connect with other fostering families in the Oxford area
Download our finance guide
Our handy finance guide will help you to understand the ins and outs of fostering finances, including tax, benefits and national insurance.
On-going therapeutic training in Oxford
Our City & Guilds Therapeutic Pathway Programme provides the knowledge and tools you need to support children who are carrying the weight of trauma.
Through our carefully designed training, you’ll learn proven therapeutic parenting approaches that can be integrated into your daily care. We’ll also work alongside you to create a personal development plan, ensuring you grow and thrive in your role as a therapeutic foster parent.
Beyond training, you’ll have access to a team of therapeutic professionals, including experienced on-house therapists and a trauma-informed network of professionals, who will support children as they process the thoughts and emotions attached to their early experiences. With round-the-clock support, you’ll always have someone to turn to for guidance, no matter the time or situation.
If you’re ready to provide a safe, nurturing home where children can heal and recover, we’d love to hear from you.
Why does therapeutic foster care matter?
Every experience can shape the way we feel about ourselves, those around us, and the world as a whole.
Positive experiences can teach us that the world is a place of safety and opportunity, building our confidence and inspiring curiosity. Difficult experiences, however, can lead us to see the world as a place of danger, forcing us to alter our behaviour just to survive.
For many children in care, their early experiences have shaped survival strategies that affect their behaviour today. Therapeutic foster care is about looking beyond these coping mechanisms and helping young people recognise that they are now in a safe and supportive environment where they can begin to heal from their trauma.
Start your therapeutic fostering journey today
At ISP, we believe in supporting our foster parents in every way possible, ensuring you have the resources you need to thrive in your role and make a positive impact on the children in your care.
So join us today and help us support children on their recovery journeys so they can have the optimistic futures they deserve.
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