Fostering in Stockton

When children are unable to live with their birth families, foster carers provide more than a spare room. They offer guidance, reassurance and a sense of belonging that can make a profound difference to a young person's confidence and wellbeing. A stable foster home can help children build positive relationships, experience routine and develop the resilience needed for the future.

At Action for Children Fostering, we're looking for people throughout Stockton who can offer a nurturing home environment and a commitment to helping local children thrive. Whether you live in Stockton itself or one of the surrounding communities, fostering gives you the opportunity to make a meaningful difference close to home.

You don't need previous fostering experience to get started. If you can provide patience, understanding and a safe place where a child feels valued, we'll provide the training and support needed to help you succeed.

If you're ready to make a lasting impact on a child's future, we'd love to hear from you.

We understand that becoming a foster carer is a significant responsibility. That's why we provide a package of fostering payments designed to support both you and the child in your care.

Fostering payments are made up of a weekly allowance and a fostering fee. The allowance helps cover everyday costs including food, clothing, travel, hobbies and other essential expenses associated with caring for a child. The fostering fee recognises the time, dedication and skills involved in providing high-quality care.

The level of payment available depends on the type of fostering you undertake and the needs of the child placed with you. Additional support may also be available for educational opportunities, milestone celebrations and activities that support a child's development and wellbeing.

Our aim is to ensure foster carers feel financially supported, allowing them to focus on creating positive experiences and opportunities for the children they care for.

By helping to cover practical expenses, we enable carers to concentrate on providing the stability and encouragement that children need.

Fostering is one of the most rewarding roles you can undertake, but it's important to know that support is always available when you need it.

Every foster carer with Action for Children Fostering benefits from ongoing support from a dedicated supervising social worker. Your social worker will provide advice, guidance and regular supervision, ensuring you feel confident and supported throughout your fostering journey.

We also recognise the value of building strong connections with other foster carers. Being able to share experiences and learn from others who understand the realities of fostering can provide invaluable reassurance and encouragement.

Foster carers in Stockton can access:

• Dedicated support from a supervising social worker
• Regular supervision meetings and home visits
• Foster carer support groups and community networks
• Peer support opportunities
• Specialist advice and professional expertise
• 24-hour support for urgent situations

Many foster carers tell us that the combination of professional support and peer networks gives them the confidence to navigate challenges and celebrate successes along the way.

We're committed to ensuring every foster carer feels connected, informed and valued.

Providing children with the best possible care requires knowledge, confidence and a willingness to keep learning. That's why we provide comprehensive training before approval and throughout your fostering journey.

All training is free of charge and designed to equip foster carers with the skills needed to support children and young people effectively.

Skills to Foster

This introductory training programme provides an overview of fostering and explores key topics including attachment, child development, communication, safeguarding and understanding the needs of children in care.

Therapeutic Parenting

Many children entering foster care have experienced trauma, loss or instability. Therapeutic parenting training helps carers understand these experiences and develop practical approaches that support emotional wellbeing and positive behavioural outcomes.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding training focuses on child protection, online safety, health and wellbeing, recognising risk factors and supporting children in a safe and responsible way.

Further Development Opportunities

As you gain experience, you'll have access to additional training opportunities designed to build specialist knowledge and enhance your confidence as a foster carer.

Our training programme ensures foster carers feel equipped to meet the changing needs of children and provide stable, supportive homes where they can thrive.

Many people are surprised to discover that fostering is open to a much wider range of people than they originally imagined.

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

We welcome enquiries from:

• Single people
• Couples and partners
• Parents and those without children
• Homeowners and tenants
• Working professionals
• Retired individuals
• People from all cultural and religious backgrounds
• LGBTQ+ individuals and couples
• People living with disabilities

Children need different types of foster homes and positive role models, which is why diversity among foster carers is so important.

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

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

Contact our Stockton fostering team today to find out more about fostering and the support available to help you begin your journey.