Fostering is about looking after children in a safe and secure environment when they can't live with their own families.

Following incidents such as family difficulties, illness or drug related problems it is sometimes best for a child to be placed in a foster home.

In some cases fostering can be very short term, perhaps even overnight, and many children return home to their parents once the problem has been resolved. In other cases, children are unable to return home and need long term foster care or adoption.

Fostering is not always an easy ride. Some of the children and young people needing care have experienced violence or abuse. Many will be very demanding. All children are likely to experience some distress at moving into a new environment and will need a stable home and the support of caring, loving foster carers.

Contact

If you are interested in finding out more about fostering please contact the Family Placement Team, or complete a fostering enquiry form (to the right of the screen) and return it to the contact address.

Statement of Purpose

The Fostering Service has by law to produce an annual "Statement of Purpose"(to the right of the screen) outlining what it does and who is involved in providing the service.

Also see

> British Association for Adoption and Fostering website
> Fostering Network website