the urgent need for specialist care.
On any given day, over 68,000 children live with foster families across the UK. 6,000 more families are urgently needed this year, with a critical shortage of specialist carers for complex needs.
why your professional experience matters.
Professional foster carers work as key members of a highly skilled support team. Your vocational background means you already possess the crucial foundations to provide a trauma-informed, stable home environment.
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who would be a great fit for this career?
The skills you have developed in your current career, such as compassion, consistency, and remaining calm under pressure, are exactly what young people with additional or complex needs require. We work with professionals from backgrounds such as:
- Teachers, LSAs, and SEN specialists
- Social Workers, Residential Children's Home staff, or Child Support Workers
- CAMHS practitioners, mental health nurses, and therapeutic professionals
- Youth Offending Team staff, probation workers, or emergency services personnel
- Experienced foster carers or adoptive parents
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choosing the right fostering partner for you.
Our network gives you the freedom to choose the exact type of provider that best aligns with your personal values and professional goals. We connect you with local authorities, charities, and independent agencies chosen specifically because they invest heavily in resource-rich environments, offer child-centered advocacy, and have proven track records for safe, stable placements.
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professional support and specialist services.
You will never be left to figure things out on your own. Our chosen partners offer dedicated 24/7 emergency support lines, routine home visits, and local foster carer peer networks. Furthermore, they run tailored education, mental health, and physical wellbeing support services, ensuring you have the expert resources needed to succeed.
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fostering paths to fit your lifestyle.
Fostering can be built entirely around your current lifestyle and career commitments, offering both full-time and flexible arrangements:
- Therapeutic Step-Down: Help a young person make the vital transition from a residential setting into a stable family home.
- Short-Term Fostering: Provide a safe, supportive environment for a few weeks or months while permanent plans are organised.
- Emergency Fostering: Provide immediate safety, comfort, and protection for a child at short notice during a crisis.
- Respite & Short Breaks: Support other foster families by providing weekend or holiday care, ideal for balancing alongside your existing career.
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financial security and allowances.
Our fostering partners recognise your professional expertise and ensure your commitment is fully respected with a competitive financial package:
- Up to £1,055.48 weekly fostering payment when a child is placed with you.
- Up to £54,860 annual income for a full year of care.
- Professional-level package of training, support, and remuneration designed to make fostering a viable alternative to full-time employment.
frequently asked questions.
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Is there an age limit for fostering?
You must be aged 21 or over, with the life experience, maturity, and resilience required to handle the responsibility. There is no upper age limit for fostering, provided you are fit and healthy enough to fully care for a child.
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am I able to foster if I am currently working?
This depends entirely on the path you choose and is assessed on an individual basis. For full-time therapeutic placements, fostering must take priority over other work commitments. However, flexible paths like weekend respite and short breaks are specifically designed to fit around your existing health, education, or social care career.
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how much will I get paid for looking after a child?
Different fostering arrangements involve different commitments. You could offer full-time care, short-term care or planned weekend and holiday breaks. The right option depends on your availability, household and the child’s needs. Our team can help you explore what might work for you.
Payments include a foster carer fee and an allowance towards the child’s care. Some specialist opportunities offer a total payment of up to £1,055.48 per week when a child is placed with you, approximately £54,860 for a full year of care.
The amount depends on the provider, arrangement and the child’s needs. Short-break care involves shorter stays, with payments reflecting the care provided. Our team can help you understand the financial arrangements for the opportunities you’re considering.
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where are these professional fostering opportunities located?
We are actively matching specialists with local authorities, charities, and independent agencies in the following areas:
- London & the South East
- The Midlands (East & West)
- The North West & North East
- Yorkshire & the Humber
- The South West
- Scotland & Wales
Don't see your specific location listed? Because we operate a nationwide network, we can still connect you with a leading provider right on your doorstep.
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how long does it take to become an approved foster carer?
Becoming an approved foster carer typically takes around four to six months, although timing varies by provider and your circumstances.
If you and the provider agree to proceed, a social worker will guide you through assessment, relevant checks, references and preparation training. A fostering panel considers your assessment and makes a recommendation before the provider makes the final approval decision.
Registering your interest comes before this process. It starts with an informal conversation, giving you time to ask questions and decide whether you’d like to take things further.
For a closer look at the next steps, read our guide: considering fostering? 5 things to know before you start.
ready to take the first step in your fostering journey?
reach out to the team.
complete the form below to arrange a friendly, informal chat with the team.
there is no commitment required.