FOSTER parents at companies in Oxfordshire are to be given more help to balance their day jobs with looking after vulnerable children.

Yesterday saw the launch of Oxfordshire County Council’s fostering friendly campaign, which features a fostering covenant signed by seven employers.

It aims to make it as easy as possible to foster children, as part of the local authority’s aim of becoming the most foster-friendly area in the country.

Speaking at the launch of the campaign the county council’s corporate parenting manager, Matthew Edwards, said getting seven companies on board was of huge importance.

He said: “We believe we should be looking after our own children, we should not be sending them out of the county.

“We also believe there should be more local foster carers.”

The covenant commits companies to ensuring no foster carer will be disadvantaged and ensuring special treatment is available for them in some cases.

Teresa O’Grady, who works for the authority, has been fostering a child with disabilities one weekend a month for three years as a respite foster carer, giving the child’s parents time to spend with their other children.

The 53-year old from North Leigh said: “It has been brilliant, I wish my husband Paddy and I had got into it much earlier.

“It can be quite a daunting prospect for a lot of people, but really it is not daunting at all.”