The way we work
Fostering isn’t a task you do on your own. It takes a network of people behind you to give you the support and guidance you need to carry on.
We offer a thorough assessment process that enables us to gain a better picture of you and your family. We assess what you are able to offer a child and what support you may need. This process can take about four months, during which you will receive a package of training. We will need to do Criminal Record Bureau check, local authority checks and undertake personal and professional references. At the end of it a report will be produced and shared with you, before being shared with a panel of key people who will recommend the kind of fostering you will be approved for.
Foster carers have their own family placement social worker who will get to know you and your family. They will accompany you to meetings about the child and be your main line of support. They will meet with you monthly to undertake your supervision, will ensure you get the right training and have support of other professionals. You can contact the family placement team by phone whenever you need additional support and each team also has an out of hours service.
There is a financial package that supports you to look after our children. All carers receive a fostering allowance for the costs of caring for a child and additional amounts depending on skill level.
We encourage foster carers to get support and advice from each other as well as their family placement social workers. We organise support groups, foster carers meet at training and some support each other more informally.
