Fostering in Middlesbrough

For some children, entering care can be one of the most significant changes they experience. Foster carers help provide the stability and reassurance that allows children to rebuild confidence, form positive relationships and feel secure in their daily lives. A supportive foster home can make a lasting difference to a child's future.

At Action for Children Fostering, we're looking for compassionate individuals and families throughout Middlesbrough who can offer local children a safe and nurturing place to call home. Whether you live in the town centre, a residential neighbourhood or one of the surrounding communities, fostering gives you the chance to support children while helping them stay connected to their local area.

You don't need professional childcare experience or specialist qualifications to become a foster carer. What matters most is your willingness to support children, provide structure and help them achieve their potential.

If you have a spare room and a commitment to making a difference, fostering could be the opportunity you've been looking for.

We recognise that fostering is an important commitment and believe foster carers should receive the financial support they need to focus on caring for children and young people.

Our fostering payments include both a fostering allowance and a fostering fee. The allowance helps cover everyday expenses such as food, clothing, travel and activities, while the fee acknowledges the skills, dedication and responsibility involved in providing foster care.

The payments available will vary depending on the type of fostering you provide and the individual needs of the child placed with you. Additional support may also be available for educational activities, hobbies, holidays and other experiences that contribute to a child's development and wellbeing.

We want foster carers to feel confident that they have the resources needed to provide high-quality care and create positive opportunities for children.

By providing financial support, we help foster families concentrate on building strong relationships and supporting children to thrive.

Fostering can be life-changing for both children and carers, which is why we place great importance on providing reliable and accessible support throughout your fostering journey.

Every foster carer is supported by a dedicated supervising social worker who will provide advice, guidance and regular supervision. We work closely with our carers to understand their individual needs and provide support tailored to their circumstances.

As well as professional support, foster carers have opportunities to connect with others who understand the challenges and rewards of fostering.

Foster carers in Middlesbrough receive access to:

• A dedicated supervising social worker
• Regular supervision and support visits
• Foster carer support groups
• Peer support and networking opportunities
• Specialist guidance and professional advice
• Emergency and out-of-hours support

Many foster carers benefit from sharing experiences with others who foster. Building relationships within the fostering community provides encouragement, practical advice and reassurance whenever challenges arise.

Our aim is to ensure every foster carer feels supported, valued and equipped to provide the best possible care for children and young people.

We believe that ongoing learning is an important part of becoming a confident and effective foster carer. That's why we provide a comprehensive range of training opportunities before approval and throughout your fostering journey.

All training is delivered free of charge and is designed to help foster carers understand children's experiences, build practical skills and develop confidence in supporting young people.

Skills to Foster

This introductory programme provides a foundation for fostering, covering child development, attachment, communication, safeguarding and the responsibilities of the fostering role.

Therapeutic Parenting

Many children entering care have experienced trauma, loss or instability. Therapeutic parenting training helps carers understand how these experiences affect children and introduces approaches that support emotional wellbeing and positive relationships.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding training focuses on child protection, online safety, health and wellbeing and recognising situations that may place children at risk.

Ongoing Development

As your experience grows, you'll have access to additional learning opportunities that help you build specialist skills, deepen your knowledge and respond confidently to a wide range of children's needs.

Our training programme is designed to ensure foster carers feel prepared, capable and supported throughout every stage of their fostering career.

Many people are surprised by how diverse the fostering community is. Successful foster carers come from many different backgrounds, household types and life experiences.

Generally, you may be able to foster if you:

• Are over 21 years old
• Have a spare bedroom
• Have the right to live and work in the UK
• Can provide a stable and supportive home environment

We welcome enquiries from:

• Single people
• Couples and partners
• Parents and people without children
• Homeowners and tenants
• Working professionals
• Retired individuals
• People from all cultural and faith backgrounds
• Members of the LGBTQ+ community
• People living with disabilities

There is no single definition of a foster carer. Children need different kinds of homes and positive role models, which is why carers with different experiences and perspectives are so important.

The qualities we value most are patience, empathy, commitment and a genuine desire to help children feel safe and supported.

By becoming a foster carer in Middlesbrough, you could provide a child with the stability, encouragement and opportunities they need to build confidence and look forward to a brighter future.

Contact our Middlesbrough fostering team today to find out more about becoming a foster carer and how we can support you throughout your fostering journey.