Foster Together

Foster care, or fostering, is the term used to describe an approved foster carer offering a home to a child or young person who can’t live with their own family.

Sometimes a child or young person will stay for a very short time before returning to their family, others may need to live with a foster family for a long time.

Some children and young people may have regular contact with other members of their family, even if they cannot live with them.

Step 1. Initial contact

It all begins by making contact with our friendly enquiries officer by telephone on 0800 05 222 50 or through our online registration form

The enquiries officer will have an informal discussion with you and we will then send you our comprehensive fostering guide or you can order free copy online here.

Step 2. Home visit

We will make arrangements to visit you in your own home to discuss fostering in detail.

Step 3. Introductory training

The assessment process begins with attendance to our ‘Skills to Foster’ training. This usually takes place over two days. If you have a partner, you both will need to attend the training.

This will help you gain a clear understanding of fostering before you decide to confirm, and will cover:

• What foster care involves
• Identity and life chances
• Safer caring
• Working with others
• Understanding and caring for children and young people
• Transitions

You will also have the opportunity to speak directly with one of our foster carers who can talk you through their experience of fostering with the Together Trust.

Step 4. Assessment process

Following the training if you and the Together Trust feel fostering is right for you, we will start the assessment and undertake statutory checks and personal references.

A qualified social worker will undertake an assessment report with you at your home. The social worker will also meet with your personal referees, members of your household and any grown up children you have living away from home. As part of our safer recruitment we will also undertake background checks.

Assessment may sound daunting but remember we are here to help you. Once the assessment is complete and signed by you it will go to the fostering panel.

Step 5. Fostering panel and agency decision maker

The panel comprises people with a wide range of professional expertise and personal experience. They are responsible for making a recommendation as to whether you are suitable to be a foster carer.

Step 6. You are approved!

Welcome to the Together Trust fostering family!

We are delighted to have you join us in making a real difference to the lives of children and young people.

Parenting experience is helpful but not essential. You will need plenty of patience, enthusiasm, often humour and always kindness.

You need to be adaptable and need to demonstrate an understanding of the complex needs of the children and young people who are looked after.

Commitment to children and young people is key – stickability.

Foster carers receive a weekly allowance to cover the costs of caring for a child. They also receive a fee for their skills, training and experience. The allowance amount varies based on the child’s age, the foster carer’s experience, and the type of fostering. 

Some foster carers can also receive additional payments for birthdays, holidays, and other specific needs of the child.

If you want to find out more about fostering allowances, get in touch. We’re happy to answer your financial questions, as well as any other fostering queries you have.

We welcome applications from people already approved to foster with another agency. You would have to be reassessed but this should be fairly straightforward as you will have all your experience in fostering. Visit our transfer page if you’d like to transfer to fostering with us.

Please note that carers are not able to foster with more than one agency at a time.

There is no upper age limit for fostering but you do need to be at least 21 years old.
Foster carers need to have reasonable health and have a positive outlook. The assessment will look at your individual skills and situation.

Our fostering family includes foster carers with a wide range of experiences and situations, including a number of single carers. We will talk to you about your experience of caring for children. The important factor is that you have friends and family to support you.

We’re proud to support LGBTQ+ individuals and couples wanting to foster.

We are a New Family Social member and take pride in making sure every individual or family going through the fostering process with us is treated equally and with respect.