Fostering
We would like to welcome Hope FM 
listeners to our website. If you want more information please contact our fostering team using the details on the right or by email.
Nationally, 3 out of 4 children who are fostered return home. We are currently looking for people who are able to foster children of all ages.
We are also looking for people who can give short periods of care to children with disabilities. You might want to consider our Shared Care Scheme, which helps to provide disabled children with respite care via our panel of approved Shared Carers.
Who can be a Foster Carer?
Anyone with the necessary skills and commitment can be a foster carer. Please read our statement of purpose for more information. You can be:
- Single
- With a partner
- With or without children
What skills do I need?
You will need commitment, understanding and endless amounts of patience to help a child who maybe going through a difficult time in their life. We view foster carers as part of a professional team whose main focus is to enhance the lives of children in their care. You will be expected to work with other professionals from many areas such as education, health and social care.
As a foster carer you will need to have insight into the needs of the children you care for and in some cases be an advocate for them. You will need to talk to them and be willing to listen even though you might not know the answers.
We are looking for people who can offer different skills for a variety of ages. Some people may be more suited to younger children and some to older children.
We want to provide stable permanent placements for those children who cannot return to their families. This requires a lot of commitment and we are also looking for people who can provide shorter periods of care, or who can support other foster carers in other ways.
We help people work out the kind of fostering that will suit them. Fostering can be hard work, but it can make a big difference to a child. We will provide support and allowances and we hope that you will be interested in becoming a foster carer.
Fostering Support
- We have a dedicated fostering team who are able and willing to offer a high level of support through regular contact with you.
- We offer support groups both during the day and in the evening.
- You will be allocated a designated family placement social worker.
- Your family placement social worker is your first point of contact and they will come to see you regularly.
- Fostered children will have an allocated social worker that is a specialist in child care.
- We have links to useful websites.
Fostering Allowances
- Foster carers will get paid an allowance and a fee to help you look after a foster child.
- The level of payment depends on the age and needs of the child and so will vary.
- This will be discussed with you before a child is placed with you.
How do I become a foster carer?
- If you feel that you have something to offer and are interested in finding out more please contact our fostering team using the details on the right or by email.
- We can provide advice and invite you to the next information evening.
- You can register your interest in becoming a foster carer on an enquiry form.
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