about fostering
above all, foster care is about providing a safe, stable family environment to a child in need.
Why Foster?
Above all, foster care is about providing a safe, stable family environment to a child in need. Working closely with the Local Authority, we strive to place a child with an individual or family who can meet the needs of the child on a short or long term basis.
Sometimes a child is only placed into foster care for a short time and returns home safely as soon as they're able to do so. However, most children do need a long-term solution.
Who will I foster?
Our matching process allows us to find the best possible placements for both the foster child and the carer.
FosteringMatters has a detailed and thorough matching process. Our expert team decides with the carer whether the child is matched to the carer, by considering the needs of the child against the skills, experience and preferences of the carer.
We consider a wide range of aspects such as life experiences, location, work, training and personal preference.
Wherever possible, we involve the young person in the decision about where they are placed. When possible, we conduct introductory visits and overnight stays before the child moves in, but some children unfortunately move in with limited information on and emergency basis.
FosteringMatters carers are always involved in matching and are never compelled to take a placement.
types of fostering
As a foster carer with FosteringMatters, you'll want to provide the best possible care to the young person in your care. Finding the right placement type can be key to building a long-lasting and fulfilling relationship with your foster child. FosteringMatters offer a range of placement types, including short-term, long-term, and respite care, as well as training for parent and child placements and specialist foster care placements.
Your skills, experience, and personal preferences all play a crucial role in determining the best placement type for you, and we carefully match you with foster children who we believe will benefit from your skill set. Below, you can find more information about the different types of foster care placements we offer.
Short-term fostering can be anything between an overnight stay to several years as short term can develop into long term if both carers and child want this and it is in the child’s best interests. Children in need of short-term fostering may reunite with their birth parents or be placed in a permanent home. Short-term fostering is the most frequently referred placement type.
Short-term fostering offers a great chance to develop personal skills through varied placements. You can provide a safe space to children and young people when their lives are in crisis.
who can foster?
We're always on the lookout for amazing foster carers in England and Wales. If you're 21 or older, have a spare bedroom and are a UK citizen or legally entitled in live and work in the UK, we want to hear from you! Just get in touch using our contact form!
I'm single. Can I foster?
Yes! The FosteringMatters team includes many single carers. As long as you fit our criteria, you can apply to foster a child - with or without a partner.
I work full-time. Could I foster a child?
You can work in your current job and be a foster carer. As long as you have time to look after the needs of your foster child, you can continue working.
Are same-sex couples allowed to foster?
Absolutely, FosteringMatters is non-discriminatory, we're an LGBTQ+ friendly agency, and actively support same-sex couples, non-binary applicants, ethnic minorities and all faiths.
I'm 60+. Can I still foster children?
Yes, FosteringMatters is non-discriminatory, we welcome all ages to apply, provided you can keep up with a foster child's energy levels and needs. Your assessment will enable you and the assessing social worker to determine what type of child will work best with you.
the application process:
START BY COMPLETING THE ONLINE ENQUIRY FORM
We’ll call you back for an informal chat where we can answer any questions you may have.
We will then schedule a home visit to check your home is suitable and leave an application pack with you. You can fill this in in your own time, or we can help – just let us know!-
FILL IN YOUR PACK
Once we’ve received your completed application pack, we’ll begin carrying out the necessary checks related to your application. We will perform identity checks and enhanced DBS checks and ask for personal and professional references.
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MEET YOUR ASSESSING SOCIAL WORKER
You’ll be assigned your own Assessing Social Worker. They will ask about your background, including education and employment history to contribute to your BAAF F assessment which considers your suitability to foster.
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PANEL DAY
When all the checks and assessment are completed, you go to panel. This is where a friendly group of independent professionals check over your application and ask any questions they may have and make a recommendation to the agency decision maker as to your suitability to foster and what children would be appropriate for you to foster.
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THE DECISION
The panel provides a recommendation to the Decision Maker, who makes the final decision based on all evidence submitted. We’ll let you know within 5 working days whether you’re approved.
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APPROVAL
Once you become an approved foster carer with FosteringMatters, you’ll be assigned your own Supervising Social Worker (SSW), and you will be ready to welcome your first placement.
support, allowances and payments
The amount of pay you receive depends on a range of factors, such as the functioning of the young person, how many children you take and whether the child is complex needs, or you take a parent and child placement. If you are a carer for another agency (including with a child in placement) and wish to transfer to FosteringMatters, we will use the Fostering Network Transfer Protocol and will match your existing fee and transfer the child with you.