Fostering in Liverpool

For children who are unable to live with their birth families, having a safe and nurturing home can make a life-changing difference. Foster carers help children navigate challenges, celebrate achievements and build the confidence they need to thrive both now and in the future.

At Action for Children Fostering, we're looking for people from across Liverpool who can provide local children with the support and care they need. Whether you live in the city centre, the suburbs or surrounding communities, fostering gives you the chance to make a meaningful difference while helping children remain close to familiar schools, friends and support networks.

You don't need to be a parent or have previous fostering experience to start your journey. We're interested in who you are, the values you bring and your commitment to helping children succeed.

If you have a spare room and a desire to positively impact a young person's life, fostering could be the most rewarding decision you'll ever make.

We know that fostering is a significant responsibility and commitment. That's why we provide financial support that enables foster carers to focus on providing the best possible care for children and young people.

Our fostering payments consist of an allowance and a fee. The allowance helps cover the costs of caring for a child, including food, clothing, transport, hobbies and everyday household expenses. The fee recognises the time, dedication and skills involved in being a foster carer.

Payments vary depending on the type of fostering you provide and the needs of the child placed with you. Additional support may also be available to help with educational opportunities, important milestones, holidays and other experiences that contribute to a child's development.

Our aim is to ensure that foster carers have the resources needed to create a positive, stable and supportive home environment.

When financial concerns are reduced, carers can focus on building strong relationships and helping children reach their full potential.

Fostering can be both rewarding and challenging, which is why we believe ongoing support is essential.

When you become a foster carer with Action for Children Fostering, you'll be supported by a dedicated supervising social worker who will provide regular guidance, practical advice and encouragement throughout your fostering journey. We work closely with every fostering household to ensure support is tailored to their unique circumstances.

You're never expected to manage fostering alone. Alongside professional support, you'll have opportunities to connect with other foster carers who understand the realities of the role.

Our support includes:

• A dedicated supervising social worker
• Regular supervision and support visits
• Foster carer support groups
• Peer networking opportunities
• Access to specialist advice and services
• Out-of-hours support whenever needed

Many foster carers tell us that meeting others who foster helps them gain confidence, share experiences and develop long-lasting friendships.

Our goal is to ensure every foster carer feels supported, informed and valued throughout every stage of fostering.

Children and young people in care often have unique experiences and individual needs. To help foster carers provide the best possible support, we offer comprehensive training before approval and throughout their fostering journey.

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

Skills to Foster

This introductory programme offers an in-depth introduction to fostering. You'll learn about child development, attachment, communication, safeguarding and the responsibilities involved in caring for children and young people.

Therapeutic Parenting

Many children entering care have experienced trauma, separation or disruption. This training helps carers understand how these experiences can affect behaviour and development while exploring ways to build trust, emotional security and resilience.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding training covers child protection, online safety, physical and emotional wellbeing, and recognising signs that a child may need additional support.

Ongoing Development

Learning continues throughout your fostering career. As your experience grows, you'll have access to additional courses that help you develop specialist skills and increase your confidence in supporting children with varying needs.

Our training programme is designed to ensure foster carers feel prepared, capable and supported in delivering high-quality care.

One of the biggest misconceptions about fostering is that only certain types of people can do it. In reality, successful foster carers come from all walks of life.

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 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 and faith backgrounds
• LGBTQ+ individuals and couples
• People living with disabilities

There is no "perfect" foster carer. Children need different types of homes and role models who can meet their individual needs.

The most important qualities are patience, compassion, resilience and a genuine desire to support children and young people.

By fostering in Liverpool, you could help a child build confidence, create positive memories and develop the foundations for a brighter future.

Speak to our Liverpool fostering team today and discover how you could help change a child's life through fostering.