The Fostering Network
Home
0800 0407675
  • About us
  • Thinking of fostering?
  • Already fostering?
  • Resources
  • Fostering Services

About us

Want to learn more about Fosterline? 

Learn more
  • What we stand for
  • Contact us
  • FAQs about Fosterline
  • Job vacancies

Thinking of fostering?

If you are thinking of fostering, we have a range of information for you to explore. 

Learn more
  • What is fostering?
  • Why foster?
  • Who can foster?
  • How do I become a foster carer?
    • Approaching a fostering service
    • Assessment process
    • Attending the fostering panel
  • Fostering quiz
  • Preparing to foster guide
  • Find a Fostering Service
  • Events

Already fostering?

We have a range of information to support you throughout your fostering journey. 

Discover more
  • Preparing to welcome a child into your home
  • Safeguarding
  • Facing an allegation
  • Celebrating and supporting diversity
  • Caring for a child with a disability
  • Caring for an autistic child
  • Attachment and fostering
  • Fostering legislation
  • Fostering and education
  • Fostering and finances
  • Special Guardianship Order (SGO)
  • Training for foster carers
  • Advocacy for children and young people
  • Contact (family time)
  • Facing challenges
  • Complaints to fostering services
  • Transferring fostering services
  • Terms, reviews, and resignation
  • Fostering with pets
  • Fostering and insurance
  • Leaving care

Resources

We have a range of further resources for both current and prospective foster carers. 

See more
  • FAQs
  • Blog
  • Preparing to foster guide
  • Counselling
  • Other useful organisations

Fostering Services

Learn more about how we can support fostering services.

Learn more
  • Supporting foster carers
  • Recruitment and retention of foster carers

Our locations

  • England
  • Wales
  • Scotland
  • Northern Ireland

Connect with us

Facebook X Instagram LinkedIn
Please enter a search term

Useful pages

Find a fostering service Types of fostering Fostering and finances Contact us
Woman And Child Painting

How do I become a foster carer?

  • What is fostering?
  • Why foster?
  • Who can foster?
  • How do I become a foster carer?
  • Fostering quiz
  • Preparing to foster guide
  • Find a Fostering Service
  • Events

We’re thrilled to hear that you’re considering becoming a foster carer! But once you've made that decision, what happens next?
 

How do I find a fostering service?

The first step to becoming an approved foster carer is choosing a fostering service in your area.

  • Recruitment Hubs: Recruitment Hubs are clusters of local authorities which have come together to run a central service for prospective foster carers, providing support from general enquiries through to application. You can search for your local recruitment hub on our Find a Fostering Service tool, here. 

There are two main types of fostering services in England:

  • Local Authority (LA): The term 'local authority' refers to the local council for each area, which could be a town, city or county (e.g., Birmingham City Council, The London Borough of Brent, Kent County Council). Each local authority usually has their own fostering service that recruits, assesses, and supports foster carers within that area. Some local authorities have formed clusters and set up regional recruitment hubs to increase support to prospective foster carers. Local authorities who are responsible for children who need foster carers will usually check if there is a suitable foster carer (or 'match') within their own pool of approved foster carers, so that the child can continue to live in the same area.
  • Independent Fostering Agency (IFA): Independent fostering agencies recruit, assess, and support foster carers in a similar way to local authorities, but are run by charities or private companies instead of local councils. They are sometimes set up with a specific remit or purpose (for example, to find foster carers for sibling groups, teenagers or children with a disability, or to provide specialist types of placement, e.g., short breaks). Independent fostering agencies can provide fostering arrangements for children on behalf of local authorities who are unable to find a suitable 'match' from their own pool of foster carers.

 

Just a note - the process of becoming a connected person/family and friends or kinship foster carer is slightly different.

Read more about kinship care

Pop your postcode into our ‘Find a fostering service’ tool to search for fostering services near you. You can also check our events board for any upcoming fostering information events in your area. We have also created a useful guide which contains lots of information for prospective foster carers. 

Find a fostering service Fostering information events
Couple Looking At Laptop

It may be helpful to contact more than one fostering service to find the best option for you, as they will all differ in how they provide training, practical and financial support, and in relation to the type of foster care roles they are recruiting for. Foster carers can only be approved with one fostering service, so it's important to make the right choice for you. While it is possible to transfer to another service, this requires a reassessment, so it's worth spending time exploring your options now.

All fostering services are inspected by Ofsted, so you might also find it helpful to read the latest inspection report for any services you are considering. Search for Ofsted inspection reports (external site).

Woman On Computer

All fostering services set their own rates of payment, but these must meet the minimum allowances to cover the cost of caring for a child. You can ask for a copy of a fostering service's payment policy to get more information about their payments, including any specific criteria that may apply.

As we are impartial, Fosterline cannot recommend any specific fostering services, but we can provide more information and tips for choosing a service.

Get in touch with us
Women On Computer
F275fd07 1E08 4602 9A7f D5975adbe2e5

First steps

Explore
Ready to approach a fostering service? Find out more about initial enquiries, and the process leading up to the assessment. 
Jumping

Assessment

Learn
Ready to know more about what happens during assessment? We have lots of information on the two-stage assessment process, including what to expect at each stage, and how you can prepare. 
Men Laptop

Fostering panel

Find out
The final stage of the assessment process is attending the fostering panel. Read our top tips about how to prepare in the run up to the day, as well as on the day itself. 
Man At Laptop

Find a fostering service

Search
Ready to look at fostering services? Use our 'Find a fostering service' tool to search for fostering services near you. 
4D6bb858 C77b 422F A174 Adaab5c10362

Preparing to foster guide

Read
We have created a helpful guide for prospective foster carers with a handy checklist of things for you to consider. 
Woman On Laptop

Fostering events

Events
Take a look at our events board for fostering events near you. These can give you an opportunity to learn more about a fostering service, and have an opportunity to ask lots of questions. 
Previous Who can foster?
Next Fostering quiz
The Fostering Network
The Fostering Network
Department for Education

About us

What we stand for

Job vacancies

Contact us

Facebook X Instagram LinkedIn