Fostering in Devon

Children come into care for many different reasons, but all benefit from having trusted adults who can provide consistency and help them feel secure during times of change. Foster carers play a crucial role in helping children build confidence, develop positive relationships and look forward to a brighter future.

At Action for Children Fostering, we're looking for people throughout Devon who can offer a nurturing home and a commitment to supporting local children. Whether you live in a city, market town, coastal community or rural location, fostering provides an opportunity to make a meaningful and lasting difference.

You don't need specialist experience or formal qualifications to become a foster carer. What matters most is your ability to offer patience, compassion and a stable home where a child can thrive.

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

We understand that fostering involves both emotional commitment and practical responsibilities. That's why we provide fostering payments designed to support carers while they provide high-quality care for children and young people.

Fostering payments are made up of a fee and an allowance. The allowance contributes towards everyday expenses such as food, clothing, transport, school activities and household costs. The fee recognises the important role foster carers play and the dedication required to support children effectively.

The amount you receive will depend on the type of fostering you undertake and the needs of the child placed with you. Additional financial support may also be available for birthdays, holidays, educational activities and other significant events that contribute to a child's wellbeing and development.

We want foster carers to feel financially supported so they can focus on what really matters: providing stability, encouragement and positive experiences for the children in their care.

Our aim is to ensure money is never a barrier to creating a safe and nurturing home environment.

When you become a foster carer, you're joining a team that will support you throughout your fostering journey. We believe that well-supported carers are better equipped to provide the best possible outcomes for children.

Every foster carer is allocated a dedicated supervising social worker who will provide regular supervision, practical advice and ongoing guidance. We take time to understand your individual circumstances and offer support that reflects your unique needs and experiences.

Fostering can sometimes present challenges, which is why having access to experienced professionals and a strong support network is so important.

Our support includes:

• Dedicated support from a supervising social worker
• Regular supervision and guidance
• Foster carer support groups and networking opportunities
• Access to specialist advice and expertise
• Practical and emotional support throughout your fostering journey
• Out-of-hours support for urgent situations

Many of our foster carers tell us that the friendships and connections they build with other fostering families become an invaluable source of support and encouragement.

By working together, we help create a strong fostering community where carers feel confident, informed and valued.

Providing the best care for children starts with the right knowledge, skills and confidence. That's why we offer a comprehensive programme of training and development for all foster carers.

Training begins before you are approved and continues throughout your fostering career. Every course is provided free of charge and is designed to help you understand children's needs and build effective fostering skills.

Skills to Foster

This introductory programme provides a detailed overview of the fostering role. You'll learn about attachment, child development, communication, safeguarding and what it means to support a child in care.

Therapeutic Parenting

Many children entering care have experienced loss, trauma or disruption. Therapeutic parenting training helps carers understand the impact of these experiences while developing strategies that support emotional wellbeing and resilience.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding training covers child protection, health and wellbeing, online safety and understanding the risks that children and young people may face.

Continuing Development

As your fostering journey progresses, you'll have access to ongoing learning opportunities designed to develop specialist knowledge and strengthen your confidence as a foster carer.

We believe learning is an important part of fostering and helps carers create stable, supportive environments where children can flourish.

Many people assume they wouldn't be suitable for fostering, but successful foster carers come from many different backgrounds, careers and family situations.

Generally, 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 applications from:

• Single people
• Couples and partners
• Parents and people without children
• 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 profile of a foster carer because children need different types of support and positive adult role models.

The qualities we look for most are patience, resilience, empathy and a genuine desire to help children feel safe and valued.

By becoming a foster carer in Devon, you could provide the stability, guidance and encouragement that helps a child overcome challenges and build a brighter future.

Contact our Devon fostering team today to learn more about fostering and discover how you could make a lasting difference to a child's life.