Fostering in Sheffield

Children who come into care often need someone who can help them feel safe, build confidence and develop a sense of belonging. Foster carers play a vital role in supporting young people through periods of change, helping them maintain routines, achieve in education and build positive relationships for the future.

At Action for Children Fostering, we're looking for people from across Sheffield who can offer a nurturing home and a commitment to helping children thrive. Whether you live in the city centre, a suburban neighbourhood or one of the surrounding communities, fostering gives you the opportunity to make a meaningful difference locally.

You don't need to have worked with children before or have previous fostering experience. We're looking for people with compassion, patience and a willingness to learn. We'll provide the training, support and guidance needed to help you feel confident as a foster carer.

If you've ever thought about fostering, now could be the perfect time to find out how your support could change a child's future.

We understand that fostering is both a significant responsibility and a life-changing commitment. That's why we provide financial support to help foster carers focus on providing the best possible care.

Fostering payments consist of two elements: a fostering allowance and a fostering fee. The allowance helps cover everyday living costs such as food, clothing, travel, school expenses and activities. The fee recognises your commitment, skills and the essential role you play in supporting children and young people.

The level of payment depends on factors such as the type of fostering you undertake and the needs of the child placed with you. Additional support may also be available for special occasions, educational opportunities and other important experiences that contribute to a child's wellbeing and development.

Our aim is to ensure foster carers feel financially supported throughout their fostering journey.

By helping with practical expenses, we enable carers to focus on building positive relationships, creating stability and helping children develop confidence for the future.

Fostering is a rewarding role, but it's important to have the right support network around you. That's why we place foster carer support at the centre of everything we do.

Every foster carer works alongside a dedicated supervising social worker who provides regular guidance, support and professional advice. We believe that building strong relationships with our carers helps create better outcomes for children and young people.

We also understand that support often comes from speaking with people who have shared similar experiences. That's why we offer opportunities for carers to connect with others in the fostering community.

Support available includes:

• Dedicated supervision from an experienced social worker
• Regular support visits and supervision meetings
• Foster carer support groups
• Peer support and networking opportunities
• Access to specialist advice and expertise
• Out-of-hours support when urgent issues arise

Many foster carers tell us that sharing experiences with other carers helps them feel more confident and supported. Learning from others and knowing help is available can make a real difference.

Our goal is to ensure every foster carer in Sheffield feels valued, informed and equipped to provide the best possible care.

Children in care often have unique experiences and individual needs. To help foster carers feel prepared for the role, we provide comprehensive training before approval and throughout their fostering journey.

All training is free of charge and designed to help carers build knowledge, confidence and practical skills.

Skills to Foster

This introductory programme explores the foster carer role in detail. Topics include child development, attachment, communication, safeguarding and understanding the experiences of children and young people in care.

Therapeutic Parenting

Many children entering care have experienced trauma, loss or disruption. This training helps carers understand how these experiences influence behaviour and development, while introducing approaches that help children feel safe, secure and supported.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding training covers key topics including child protection, online safety, health and wellbeing, recognising risk factors and supporting children safely and effectively.

Ongoing Learning Opportunities

Learning continues long after approval. We provide ongoing professional development opportunities to help foster carers strengthen their skills and respond confidently to the changing needs of children in their care.

Our training programme is designed to help foster carers provide stable, nurturing homes where children can flourish.

Many people assume fostering isn't for them, but successful foster carers come from a wide range of backgrounds, careers and family situations.

In most cases, 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 safe and stable home environment

We welcome enquiries from:

• Single people
• Couples and partners
• Parents and non-parents
• Homeowners and tenants
• Working professionals
• Retired individuals
• People from all cultural, ethnic and faith backgrounds
• Members of the LGBTQ+ community
• People living with disabilities

There is no single definition of a foster carer. Children need a diverse range of homes and positive role models who can help them feel supported and understood.

The qualities we value most are empathy, resilience, patience and a genuine desire to make a positive difference in a child's life.

By fostering in Sheffield, you could help a child develop confidence, overcome challenges and create opportunities for a brighter future.

Contact our Sheffield fostering team today to learn more about becoming a foster carer and the support available throughout your fostering journey.