Dear potential foster carer
Thank you for visiting us and being interested in the welfare of children. We hope we are encouraging everyone to find out more about what fostering is and how it could change people’s lives.
Read on for more information or contact us today if it’s the right time to take the next step, and we’ll help you to get the best possible start by checking your information, and sharing your details with a selection of Fostering Agencies, who we believe will be able to help you progress your fostering application.
Our no obligation, online Fostering Application Service is completely free and confidential.
If you complete our fostering application form you will receive our Simply FosterCare Handbook, a comprehensive A to Z guide, which is yours to keep,
kind regards
The Simply Fostering Team.
Simply Fostering
We are a free national information and online application service for people interested in becoming foster carers. Find out if you should apply, what’s required to foster young and older children, and how we can help you to get the best start in the fostering process.
What we can do
We are qualified to help, we are registered independent social workers with over 30 years experience working in UK Fostering Services. Since 2008, we have been helping people to get it right first time. Watch our video about who we are and what we can do for you.
I’m new to fostering children
Don’t worry, take some time to look around our comprehensive website which probably has more information in one place than any other online service in the UK.
There’s facts about choosing the best agency, allowances, babies, mother and babies, children, teenagers, refugees and children with special needs.
Our website will answer most, if not all of the questions people ask, which reduces any confusion, and helps towards deciding to take the next step. Any other questions, just ask!
If you find it’s right for you, take a minute to contact us, then download our free Handbook.
We’ll help you to find a suitable agency on our national Fostering Agency Membership Database, wherever you live in the UK.
Why should you come join us?
Watch our video about;
‘What Simply Fostering can do for you.’
I’m an approved carer, help!
Having problems with your agency or just thinking about a change?
Is this the right time to take the next step in the process?
Then use our free UK Start to Transfer Service!
We specialise in helping you with or without fostered children in placement.
As soon as you contact us, Ian will be in touch to explain your right of transfer.
Ian will answer any questions then if it’s agreed, he will act on your behalf to find you the best fostering agency for you and your family.
Contact Annette to start the discussion about how to improve your support, number of placements, respite, fees and allowances.
Testimonials
Hi Annette, a big thank you, we got approved last week and and we’re looking forward to having our first foster child who is coming soon. The agency we chose has been great and our social worker is lovely. Take care,
Simon and Jo
After filling in the form we were called by two local agencies who wanted to visit next day so we met them and chose ‘………’ because they could help us to foster even if I had to keep on working for a while,
Anika and Jay
Hi Ian, I want to say thank you for all you did to help me change my agency, I would not have been able to do it without your professional, honest and friendly help and advice,
Rose
About fostering children
Fostering children in the UK means giving a child or young person a safe and caring home for as long as it takes to fix the reason why they can’t live with their family.
The child’s local authority is legally responsible for their safety, however if there are no in-house carers available, a request is made to the authority’s preferred local independent agency.
Independent (Private) fostering agencies recruit, assess, approve, train, supervise, support and review foster carers who care for children looked after by local authorities. Visit our page about fostering agencies to find out more.
Most of the children and young people who need looking after have been abused or are at risk of being abused and can’t continue living with their family. There are different types of fostering. Placements are usually short term and the child returns home or is placed with extended family.
There is also long term foster care for children who can’t return home for the foreseeable future. Younger children may be adopted, and teenagers will start the process of living independently.
After a comprehensive assessment adults become registered, approved foster carers classed as self employed for tax purposes, and contracted to work with their approving agency. The foster care approval sets out the type and categories of care carers can provide in their family home.
An approval is reviewed annually to look at any needs carers might have, what quality of service is being provided and the support available from the agency.
Independent (Private) agencies pay a basic fostering allowance of around £450 a week for each child or young person looked after. The allowance covers all day to day needs of fostered children and includes a reasonable reward element, or fee, which is often enough for people to consider foster caring full or part time.
Visit the Government website for lots of information about the government guidelines about the assessments and approval process.
Start to apply for fostering online. Enquire today, complete our foster care application form.
The information you submit will be shared with fostering agencies who will contact you directly. (Privacy Policy). Please ensure your details are correct.
Simply Fostering – Answering your questions
Our website contains a huge amount of information about foster caring such as about the fostering assessment the references and checks that are required and attending the Fostering Panel at the end of the process. You will find all you need to know about fostering agencies and the process to transfer to a different agency. Read about the issues around fostering a child and the and the Fostering Regulations which oversee fostering in the UK.
Our lets talk money article is a useful read and there’s lots of information about the allowance and pay for foster carers. Foster carers expenses are extra payments which may be paid towards the day to day care of foster children and check out the information about pocket money. If you provide education for your child at home find out if you can foster here; home schooling. For your information watch our video and visit our article; network of support.
Brexit and Fostering.
EU nationals: foster carers and fostered children
The report ‘EU nationals: foster carers and fostered children.’ by Fostering Network’s Campaigns Manager, Vicki Swain concludes that;
“EU citizens in the UK will be able to apply to get settled or pre-settled status to enable them to continue living in the UK after December 2020. Brexit should not prevent those families from continuing to foster”.
“In regards to non-UK EU nationals who want to become foster carers, the deadline for applying for settled or pre-settled status is 30 June 2021, so currently Brexit should not prevent those families from applying to foster”.
GOV.UK
Simply Fostering Blogs
Fostering Blog | Time Heals
Emma’s fostering blog When you are a foster carer it can be a roller coaster experience with happy and sad times, as you welcome a child into your home you never really know how long they will stay but after a short while they become part of the family and everyone embraces this. Then one […]
Go to Government Advice – Fostering.
Fostering Blog | Fun Weekend
/in Fostering Blog /by (Ed) Dan RowleyFostering Blog. A nice peaceful weekend in the household. No phone calls, no stress and plenty of laughter and enjoyment. On Friday evening James (name changed) and I went to do some grocery shopping and we bumped into Paige and her Mum. James was delighted to see her and they went for a wander themselves […]