Support for
foster parents

Connecting people to the things that matter

Our work is designed to keep fostering families together and to provide stability and certainty for everyone. We achieve this by connecting our foster parents to exceptional support – so that whatever challenge they’re facing, they know we’re there to help.

As well as exceptional training opportunities, our foster parent support package includes:

• A dedicated social worker
  

  We’ll allocate you a named social worker, who’ll get to know you and be able to connect you to our services and support. They’re all fully qualified and experienced in fostering, and we make sure they’ve got realistic caseloads so they’ve got the time they need to visit you regularly and monitor how things are going. This is typically every month - more regularly if you’re new to fostering or the child is just settling into your home - although they’re available by phone or at short notice whenever you need them.
  
  

• Online resources and out-of-hours helpline

  Our online portal holds valuable resources, including vital information which you can access 24/7. We also operate an emergency helpline, so you can reach us any time, at night or at weekends.
  
  

• Expert matching

  The key to a successful placement lies in the suitability of the match between foster parent and child. We use a combination of experience and decision-making tools to help us get this right, and we have an excellent reputation – with a low percentage of what are called ‘unplanned endings’; so happier foster parents and better outcomes.
  
  

• A ‘secure base’ philosophy

  We use the ‘secure base’ approach to fostering. A practical model designed to build close bonds and relationships, this helps foster parents effectively support the children or young people in their care. We provide full training to all foster parents.
  
  

• Regular support groups

  We hold regular support groups which bring our foster parents together locally, encouraging them to share their experiences and learn from each other. We often invite external speakers along, covering topics we feel our foster parents may benefit from.
  
  

• Events and activities

  There’s always something happening locally, from parent workshops and informal get-togethers over lunch through to charity fundraising days and trips to theatres at Christmas. This means there’s a strong informal support network you can tap into.
  
  

• Open and transparent management

  We always welcome ideas and feedback, and our doors are always open. So if you need to talk to our management team, we’re happy to listen.
  
  

• Free membership to FosterTalk

  These are national organisations that support fostering professionals and their families with a wide range of services, including insurance, helplines and legal and professional advice.
  
  

Feeling connected to this support gives our foster parents a huge amount of confidence.