Fostering agencies play a vital role in ensuring children requiring foster care receive the support and stability they need within fostering families. While many people are familiar with the concept of fostering, fewer understand the crucial work that foster care agencies in the UK do to support the Local Authority in finding safe homes for children. If you’re considering becoming a foster parent, understanding how foster care agencies in the UK operate can help you make an informed decision about who you choose to foster for.

What is the Role of Foster Care Agencies in the UK?

Foster care agencies in the UK like Family Fostering Partners serve as a bridge between children in care and fostering families willing to open their homes to them. Independent Fostering agencies work alongside local authorities to recruit, train, and support foster parents, to ensure that every child is placed in a safe and nurturing environment.

Key responsibilities include:

• Recruiting and assessing potential foster carers
• Providing ongoing training and support
• Matching children with suitable fostering families
• Offering 24/7 support to foster parents
• Offering external support and resources.
• Advocating for children’s needs and well-being

Why Do Private Fostering Agencies Exist?

Local authorities often rely on independent fostering agencies to meet the increasing demand for foster placements. Private fostering agencies exist to:

• Offer specialised support and training to foster parents
• Provide a more personalised approach to matching children with families
• Expand the fostering network, increasing the number of available placements

By working with a leading independent fostering care agency in the UK like Family Fostering Partners, foster parents benefit from additional support and training. Independent Fostering Agencies also give foster parents a choice – prospective foster parents can work with fostering agencies whose values and ethos align with their own. Hear the testimonials of our foster parents, and what they have to say about fostering with a foster care agency in the UK.

How Foster Care Agencies in the UK Support Children and Families

Choosing to foster through Family Fostering Partners, a foster care agency in the UK comes with many advantages, including:

• Tailored support – Foster Parents with Family Fostering Partners have access to peer support groups, a dedicated Link Worker and a 24/7 on call service.
• Better matching process – At Family Fostering Partners, we work hard to match children with the right families based on their age, interests and personalities. There is never any pressure to accept a child into your fostering household that you do not feel is a good match.  
• Financial Assistance – Have you heard of our Be There to Care scheme? This is a bespoke package from leading fostering agency Family Fostering Partners, aiming to help the transition from being approved as a foster parent, and waiting for your first carefully matched child to come to stay with you. 
• Continuous training opportunities – Ongoing professional development helps foster parents feel more prepared and equipped. All foster parents have a fully personalised training plan based on the needs of the children in their care, as well access to additional webinars and resources like Foster Talk. 

Become a Foster Carer with Family Fostering Partners

At Family Fostering Partners, we are dedicated to supporting both foster parents and the children in their care. If you’re considering fostering and want to work with a team that truly places children at the heart of everything we do, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch with us today to learn more about how you can make a difference in a child’s life.

If you’re ready to embark on this rewarding journey, now is the perfect time to take the first step. Join us in making a difference!