Fostering in London

As one of the UK's largest and most diverse regions, London is home to children from many different backgrounds and experiences. Some children need short-term support while their family circumstances improve, while others require longer-term care to help them achieve stability and positive outcomes.

Action for Children Fostering is recruiting foster carers throughout London who can offer understanding, patience and a nurturing environment. By fostering locally, you can help children remain connected to their schools, friendships and communities whenever possible.

You do not need previous fostering experience to make a difference. If you have a spare room and a commitment to helping children thrive, we'll provide the training, guidance and support needed to help you succeed.

If you're considering fostering in London, our team is here to answer your questions and support you at every stage of the journey.

We understand that foster carers make a significant commitment, both emotionally and practically. That's why we provide fostering fees and allowances designed to help carers focus on providing excellent care.

Fostering payments are made up of two parts. The allowance helps cover the everyday costs of caring for a child, including food, clothing, travel and activities. The fee element recognises the time, skills and dedication involved in being a foster carer.

The payments you receive will depend on factors such as the type of fostering you undertake and the specific needs of the child placed with you. Additional financial assistance may also be available for special occasions, educational requirements and other circumstances that arise during a placement.

Our aim is to ensure foster carers have the resources they need to provide children with stability, opportunity and a positive home environment.

With financial support in place, you can focus on helping children develop confidence, build relationships and achieve their potential.

Fostering is a rewarding role, but it can also be challenging at times. That's why we place a strong emphasis on supporting every foster carer throughout their fostering journey.

All of our foster carers are allocated a dedicated supervising social worker who provides regular guidance, practical advice and ongoing supervision. We maintain manageable caseloads so that carers receive the time and attention they deserve.

Our support extends beyond professional supervision. Foster carers also have opportunities to connect with other carers through support groups, networking events and peer support opportunities. Sharing experiences with others who understand fostering can provide valuable reassurance and encouragement.

Support groups provide opportunities to:

• Exchange experiences and practical advice
• Learn from other foster carers
• Access additional training sessions
• Discuss current fostering topics and developments
• Build supportive local networks

Many of our foster carers value the relationships they develop with other fostering households and the sense of community this creates.

We also provide access to specialist support, including independent professional advice when required, helping carers feel equipped to respond to a range of situations.

In addition, foster carers have access to out-of-hours support, ensuring that guidance is available whenever it is needed.

We believe every foster carer should feel confident, prepared and well supported. That's why we provide comprehensive training throughout your fostering career.

All training is provided free of charge and is designed to help you understand the experiences and needs of children in care. Learning begins before approval and continues throughout your fostering journey.

Our training programme includes a range of topics that help carers develop both knowledge and practical skills.

Skills to Foster

This introductory programme provides an overview of fostering and explores the responsibilities of the role, the needs of children in care and the importance of working with other professionals involved in a child's life.

Therapeutic Parenting

Children who enter care may have experienced trauma, loss or instability. Therapeutic parenting training helps carers understand these experiences and develop approaches that build trust, resilience and emotional wellbeing.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding training covers child protection, health and wellbeing, online safety and understanding the challenges that children and young people may face in today's world.

Ongoing Professional Development

Learning continues after approval. We provide opportunities for carers to deepen their understanding, develop specialist skills and respond confidently to the changing needs of children and young people.

Through a combination of training, supervision and support, we help carers build the confidence needed to provide safe and nurturing homes.

Many people are surprised to learn that they may be eligible to become foster carers.

In most cases, 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 people from a wide range of backgrounds because children need a diverse range of foster carers. Our carers include:

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

What matters most is your ability to offer stability, patience, encouragement and a caring home environment.

Foster carers help children develop confidence, build relationships and experience the security of family life. They provide guidance during some of the most important stages of a child's development and can have a lasting impact on a young person's future.

If you believe you could provide a safe, supportive and nurturing home, fostering could be one of the most rewarding opportunities you'll ever undertake.

Find out more about who can foster and speak to our London team today.

Wherever you live in London, our team is ready to support you. In inner London we cover the areas of Camden, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith & Fulham, Islington, Kensington & Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth and Westminster. We also cover the Greater London Boroughs of Barking & Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kingston upon Thames, Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Sutton, Waltham Forest.