Fostering in Stonehouse
Our outstanding team have been carefully matching children in care with incredible foster parents for over 25 years - Could you foster a child with us?
Independent Stonehouse
Fostering Agency
Based in Stonehouse, we support foster parents and children living across Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Wiltshire. Together with our foster families, we’re making an extraordinary difference to children in foster care.
There are more and more children every year living in foster care, and we’re looking to find more kind-hearted and passionate people to provide them a loving home.
As a Fosterplus foster parent, you’ll benefit from your own dedicated social worker, expertise from a local team, full professional training, generous fostering payments, regular support groups and events, direct phone support 24/7, and get-togethers with other foster families.
With all our local offices rated 'Outstanding' or 'Good' by Ofsted, you can trust that you'll always receive the level of support and guidance you need.
If you’re ready to take your first step into fostering, or would like to know more, chat to our friendly advisers today.
By phone
Call us at:
0800 369 8512
Enquire online
You can get in touch by filling out our online enquiry form with any queries that you may have.
Your local team
Statement of Purpose
What is fostering?
Fostering means offering your home to provide a safe, loving family environment for a vulnerable child. Foster homes are needed because there are times when it’s not possible or safe for children to stay with their birth families.
We provide many different types of fostering, including short-term (up to 2 years), long-term (until the child turns 18), emergency and respite placements. We also provide staying put placements for young people aged 18-21, and more specialist foster care placements, such as parent and child fostering and caring for children with disabilities or those seeking asylum.
Your role as a foster carer will involve caring for a child and carrying out typical parenting tasks. You will help support them to heal from difficult past experiences, as well as facilitating contact with birth parents and siblings. You will also attend training and meetings, and keep records of your foster child’s progress.
Who can become a
foster carer?
The main requirements to foster a child are:
- Aged over 21 years (no upper age limit)
- Have a spare bedroom
- Have the legal right to work in the UK
You do not need any experience or qualifications, as full training is given – but it’s important to be passionate about wanting to make a difference to children’s lives.
There are also no requirements regarding background or family circumstances. Foster parents can be single, gay, married or straight and we encourage applicants from all ethnic backgrounds to join our fostering team.
Speak to us today if you have any questions.
The fostering process
Step 1 - Enquire
To find out more about fostering, you just need to complete our enquiry form (or call us on 0800 369 8512) and we’ll chat through everything. Whether you’re just looking for more information or you’re ready to apply, our team are here to help.
Step 2 - Home visit
If you're happy to proceed, we'll arrange to visit you to share more information and answer any of your questions.
Step 3 - Application & Assessment
Once you’re ready to apply, you'll complete an application and we'll carry out our checks and complete our Form F assessment. The whole process generally takes between 4-6 months.
Step 4 - Approval
Once your assessment is complete, you'll attend a panel meeting. We'll discuss your application and you’ll then be officially approved as a foster carer.
Our 'Outstanding' team
We have a lovely, local team who are professionally skilled to support foster parents and children in all areas of fostering. Through building the strongest connection with our families, and really getting to know them, we ensure successful outcomes for all.
We celebrated our latest Ofsted achievement, receiving 'outstanding in all areas' - reflecting our commitment to providing the very best care to children and their foster parents.
Ofsted described the support we provide as 'exceptional', stating that “the level of individualised support and care to children is outstanding. As a result, the outcomes for children living with carers in this agency are excellent. The children are achieving their dreams and making exceptional progress”.
We would love for you to become a Fosterplus foster parent!
Jane's fostering story
As a single woman in her 60s, and with her own children all grown up, Jane had the time and focus to care for a foster child and so began her inspiring journey into fostering.
“I just kept thinking that I’m good at caring for people and I’d love to have the opportunity to give a child a kind and loving home. A safe home. And so that’s where it started and I got approved.”
Generous payments
We offer a fostering allowance of up to £1,904 (tax free) per month, per child, plus holiday and birthday payments, paid respite, and many other benefits.
Full support package
You'll be connected to the support you need 24/7, ranging from a dedicated social worker, regular support groups and social events, and an out of hours service.
Specialist training
We offer full, personalised training - online and in-person - from teaching the basics to advanced courses, to help you develop your skills as a foster parent.
Excellent outcomes
With all offices rated 'Outstanding' or 'Good' by Ofsted, we pride ourselves on quality and being a fostering agency families and children can rely on.
Already fostering?
We try to make things as simple as possible to transfer to us if you’re looking to change from your current foster care agency or local authority.
The first thing to do is to speak to our fostering advisers and we’ll arrange to visit you at home to have a chat about what’s involved.
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