Fostering in East Anglia

From thriving cities and market towns to rural communities and coastal areas, children across East Anglia come from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. Foster carers help provide the consistency and care that enables young people to build confidence, develop positive relationships and feel optimistic about the future.

At Action for Children Fostering, we're looking for caring individuals and families throughout East Anglia who can offer safe and nurturing homes. Whether you're exploring fostering for the first time or have thought about it before, our experienced team will provide advice and support from your first enquiry through to approval and beyond.

You don't need specialist qualifications or previous fostering experience. What matters most is your ability to care, listen and provide a stable environment where a child can thrive.

If you have a spare room and want to make a lasting difference to a child's life, we'd love to hear from you.

We know that fostering is a significant commitment that requires time, energy and dedication. That's why we provide competitive fostering fees and allowances to help support both you and the child in your care.

Fostering payments consist of an allowance and a fee. The allowance is designed to cover the day-to-day costs of caring for a child, such as food, clothing, travel and activities. The fee recognises the important role foster carers play in supporting young people and helping them achieve positive outcomes.

Payment levels vary depending on the type of fostering provided and the needs of the child. Additional financial support may also be available for special occasions, educational requirements and other circumstances that arise during a placement.

Our aim is to ensure foster carers can focus on creating positive experiences and providing excellent care without unnecessary financial pressures.

We want every foster family to feel fully equipped to provide a stable, supportive and nurturing environment where children can flourish.

Strong support is at the heart of successful fostering. When you foster with Action for Children Fostering, you'll have access to experienced professionals and a network of fellow foster carers who understand the unique challenges and rewards of the role.

Every foster carer is supported by a dedicated supervising social worker who provides ongoing guidance, practical advice and regular supervision. We take the time to understand your individual circumstances so that support is personalised to your needs.

Foster carers also benefit from opportunities to connect with other fostering households through support groups and community events.

Our support includes:

• Dedicated supervision and guidance from an experienced social worker
• Regular support groups and networking opportunities
• Access to training and professional development
• Practical advice and assistance whenever required
• Out-of-hours support for urgent situations
• Access to specialist services and expertise

Many carers tell us that sharing experiences with others who understand fostering is one of the most valuable sources of support available.

We're committed to ensuring foster carers across East Anglia never feel alone and always have someone to turn to when needed.

Providing effective foster care requires confidence, knowledge and ongoing learning. That's why we offer a comprehensive programme of training and development designed to support carers throughout their fostering journey.

Our training is free of charge and begins before approval. It continues throughout your fostering career, helping you build the skills and understanding needed to support children from a range of backgrounds and experiences.

Skills to Foster

This foundation programme provides an introduction to fostering, covering everything from child development and attachment to understanding the responsibilities of the foster carer role.

Therapeutic Parenting

Children who have experienced trauma or disruption often need specialist approaches to help them feel safe and develop trusting relationships. This training helps carers understand how trauma can affect behaviour and development.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding training covers child protection, online safety, health and wellbeing, risk awareness and current issues facing children and young people.

Continuing Development

As your fostering experience grows, you'll have access to additional learning opportunities that help you develop specialist knowledge and respond confidently to the evolving needs of children in your care.

Our aim is to make sure every foster carer feels well prepared, well informed and supported to provide the highest standard of care possible.

Many people rule themselves out of fostering before finding out whether they're actually eligible. In reality, foster carers come from a wide variety of backgrounds and life experiences.

If you're over 21, have a spare bedroom and have the right to live and work in the UK, you may be able to foster.

We welcome applications from:

• Single people and couples
• Parents and non-parents
• Homeowners and tenants
• People from diverse cultural and faith backgrounds
• Members of the LGBTQ+ community
• People with disabilities
• Working professionals and retired individuals

There is no one-size-fits-all foster carer. Children need different types of homes, experiences and personalities.

The qualities we value most are patience, compassion, commitment and the ability to provide a child with stability and support.

By becoming a foster carer in East Anglia, you could provide a young person with the care, encouragement and opportunities they need to achieve their potential and build a brighter future.

Find out more about who can foster and speak to our East Anglia fostering team today.