Creating Safe, Loving Homes for Every Child
We work closely with foster parents, social workers, and community partners to create positive and lasting impacts in the lives of children in need. Whether you are interested in becoming a foster parent or seeking support for a child, AC-Fostering is here to guide you every step of the way.
What is Foster Care?
Foster care offers a safe, supportive home for children when their biological families cannot provide care. Our trained and approved foster carers provide nurturing, kindness, and stability, ensuring the emotional and mental well-being of each child.
Fostering vs. Adoption
While adoption is a permanent arrangement where adoptive parents take full legal responsibility, fostering is typically a temporary arrangement. The local authority and birth parents maintain legal responsibility for the child in foster care.
Choosing AC as your Fostering Agency
Choosing AC as your independent fostering agency. We will provide extensive training, 24/7 support, and a community that is passionate about making a difference in the lives of children.
Fostering Allowance and Finances
Fostering is both a vocation and a career. At AC-Fostering, we offer competitive fostering allowances to ensure foster carers are supported financially while providing exceptional care to children.
Who Can Foster?
Fostering is open to people from all walks of life. We encourage applications from individuals of all ethnicities, cultures, religions, abilities, and from the LGBT+ community. Whether you're single, married, a homeowner, or a tenant, what truly matters is your capacity to provide care and nurture for a child.
The Approval Process
Begin your foster carer journey by completing an enquiry form, undergoing a home visit, filling out an application, participating in training, and finally being matched with your first foster child.
Your Journey to Becoming a Foster Carer:
Key Steps to Get Started
Starting your journey as a foster carer involves a few key steps. First, you'll complete an enquiry form, receive an information pack, and can request a call back to discuss the process. A home visit is arranged to get to know each other, and if you're ready, you’ll fill out an application form with basic details.
Next, your social worker will guide you through completing Form F and preparing for the Fostering Panel meeting. You’ll also participate in a free, mandatory 3-day "Skills to Foster" training. Once the panel reviews your information and recommends approval to the Agency Decision Maker (ADM), you’ll be ready for your first foster child. The local team will match you with a child based on your profile, marking the beginning of your foster carer journey.
STEP 1
Talk to us about Fostering
Interested in fostering? Reach out to our team by completing the enquiry form. You’ll have two options:
- Information Pack: Get key information emailed to you as per your request
- Call Back: Speak with a team member to discuss the process and arrange a home visit if you're ready.
STEP 2
Your Home Visit
We’ll schedule a home visit to meet you and your family, allowing us to get to know each other better. This initial visit helps us understand your potential as a foster carer and provides you with a clearer picture of what fostering involves before moving forward with your application.
STEP 3
Application Form
To begin, you’ll need to fill out an application form with basic details about yourself and your situation. There are no right or wrong answers, and we’re here to assist you if needed. Once submitted, a social worker will be assigned to guide you through the rest of the process.
STEP 4
Assessment
Your social worker will help you complete Form F and guide you through the preparation for the Fostering Panel meeting. The questions are meant to assess how fostering might affect you and your family, including your children, so it’s important to provide honest and thorough responses.
STEP 5
Foundations to Foster
As one of the UK’s leading fostering agencies, we ensure you have the skills to succeed. Our mandatory 3-day "Skills to Foster" training is provided free of charge, either online or at a local venue.
STEP 6
Panel meeting
The Fostering Panel reviews all the information gathered during your assessment and recommends whether your application should be approved. This recommendation is then passed to the Agency Decision Maker (ADM). You’ll be informed during the panel meeting if you’re being recommended for approval.
STEP 6
Your first child
After completing the Skills to Foster course and receiving approval from the ADM, you’ll be ready for your first child. Your local agency team will use the information you've shared to find the right match, and your foster carer journey will officially begin.
Ready to make a difference?
Whether you're interested in fostering or supporting our mission, AC-Fostering is here to guide you every step of the way.
Join Us in Making a Difference
Becoming a foster parent is more than just opening your home; it’s opening your heart. We offer comprehensive training, ongoing support, and a community of like-minded individuals who share your commitment to making a difference. Together, we can create a nurturing space where children can grow, learn, and feel loved.