On this page: Information about fostering and adoption of children and young people in Swindon, including the Family Placement Team, Fostering, and the Disabled Children's Team.
The Family Placement Team
Within the Family Placement Team are a number of experienced social workers known as family placement officers. Family placement officers are involved in all aspects of the care and well-being of children at the times when it is not possible for their birth parents to look after them.
Broadly speaking, this falls into three main areas of care:
Adoption
Fostering
Respite Care
Family Placement Officers
Family placement officers work with all applicants to prepare an assessment report which is submitted to the fostering or adoption panel. It is the panel that ultimately decides whether individual applications may be approved.
After approvals are granted, the family placement officers act as a support worker to the carer. The child also has a separate social worker whose role is to ensure the child's ongoing well-being. A number of national agencies can provide you with information and help in relation to adoption and fostering:
If you are considering adopting a child or becoming a foster carer and would like more information, please contact us at:
Swindon Borough Council
Children Services
Family Placement Team
Lyndhurst Centre
Lyndhurst Crescent
Park North
Swindon
SN3 2RW
Tel: 01793 465700
E-mail: familyplacement@swindon.gov.uk
Further Information
You can also visit The Fostering Network which will give general information about Fostering.
Disabled Children Team
The Disabled Children Team is a specialist team based at Salt Way Centre.
They work with children and families of children aged 0-18 years of age, who have a chronic illness or profound physical and/or learning disabilities.
They work alongside professionals from Health, Education and Housing, and voluntary agencies.
The team comprises Occupational Therapists, an Occupational Therapy Assistant, Social Workers and administrative staff, a Team Manager, Carers Project co-ordinator and Out and About co-ordinator of activities for disabled children.
The team covers the area within the Borough of Swindon boundary.
For further information about the Disabled Children’s Team, please see the Integrated Service for Disabled Children section of this website.