Scotland

We’re looking for warm, caring people who want to make a difference to a child’s life in Scotland.

Our fostering service in Scotland provides safe and loving foster homes for children and young people aged 5 and over.

While their age can vary, we often need to find homes for teenagers and older children.

We recruit foster parents throughout Central Scotland, Scottish Borders, and the Highlands. We work therapeutically, specialising in long-term and planned breaks foster care.

Foster carers come from all walks of life. To foster in Scotland, you will need to be at least 25 years old and have a spare room. You’ll have to be good with children and have time to give.

Areas we cover

We are recruiting foster carers in the following locations:

Central Scotland
Scottish Borders
Inverness and surrounding areas (within a 1 hour 30 minutes drive from Inverness)

Types of fostering in Scotland

Being a foster carer is a huge commitment but there are many types of foster care and you can find one that works best for you.

All our foster care is based on a therapeutic model and our foster carers are trained in attachment, developmental trauma, and therapeutic parenting approaches.

Long term fostering

Also know as "long term home", this could last for many years and into adulthood.

Action for Children Fostering will be with you all the way, supporting you emotionally, financially, and with regular training. We offer 24/7, year-round support with a dedicated, qualified social worker.

Many of our foster carers give children a long term home until they’re ready to live on their own.

Some young people stay with their foster family into adulthood, whether they study or work. This is what we call “staying put”. We want children to feel part of a family.

Planned breaks

Planned breaks carers play a vital role in supporting full-time foster carers and young people.

Providing cover during holidays and weekends gives full-time carers the chance to recharge their batteries and enables children to have new experiences. You will get to know different young people, so if you're good at building relationships, this could be for you! It would involve you looking after a child or young person for a few days, usually on a regular basis.

It’s also a great way for people considering fostering to get hands-on experience before committing fully.

You would still be provided with the same high level of support, training, and resources as all our other foster carers.

Continuing care

This offers young people a home after they reach the age of 18. This may enable the young person to continue their education through college or university. It makes them feel like they really are part of your family and gives them the foundations they need to thrive.

Siblings

Where possible we try to keep brothers and sisters together.

Sibling relationships, like all relationships, are complex - especially when there has been a difficult history. But it’s usually in the best interests of the child to stay with their siblings.

Many of our carers that foster siblings comment on how rewarding it is.

There’s nothing better than knowing you are keeping siblings together. Giving them the opportunity to grow up together and have shared experiences. Helping them have that shared history.

Who we're looking for

Foster parents come from all walks of life. To foster, you will need to be at least 25 year's old and have a spare bedroom.

You’ll have to be compassionate, understanding, and good with children. We’re looking for people who have time to give to a child who may have experienced difficulties in their life.

Can I foster?

Support and training

You'll receive professional support, training, and guidance throughout your fostering journey with Action for Children Fostering Scotland. We take care of you so you can take care of your young person.

Here in Scotland we work very closely with the local authority and other fostering agencies. We support our families for the long term and specialise in finding and providing long term foster homes for the children who need it.

We dedicate time and resources to provide the emotional and professional support each child and family needs and ensure that a dedicated member of the team is only a phone call away any time of the day or night.

Our therapeutic counselling specialists are on hand for advice and training to help those children who may need extra care due to trauma or abuse.

Find out more about how we can support you

Find out more about our training