About fostering
What is foster care?
When birth parents are no longer able to look after a child, the child will enter into the care of approved foster carers, usually in a location near their family home. The foster carer will then provide a safe and nurturing environment for the child or young person.
Happy Hearts provides a variety of different types of fostering placements to meet the individual needs of the child or young person. These include;
• Long-term fostering
• Short and Medium-term fostering
• Emergency fostering
• Respite and Short-Break fostering
• Remand fostering
• Parent and Child fostering
• Sibling fostering
• Fostering for disabled children
• Fostering for Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC)
• Step down fostering
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Why consider fostering?
Fostering is unlike any other profession. It gives the foster carer the chance to enrich their life while transforming and improving a child’s life chances. A detailed and ongoing training programme allows you to acquire new skills to apply to your role as a foster carer and provide the best possible environment for children in your care. A generous allowance also acts as a financial incentive as either a secondary or sole income.
Who can foster?
It’s straightforward process becoming a foster carer and it doesn’t cost you a penny. As long as you have space and time to commit, anybody from any background, colour, creed, sexual orientation can foster – foster carers come from all walks of life!
How to become a foster carer
Once we confirm your eligibility, becoming a foster carer is a simple process.
1. Initial enquiry with one of our friendly team
2. Home visit – we’ll arrange an informal home visit before advancing the application
3. Fostering assessment – completion of the fostering Form F with an allocated assessor
4. Fostering Panel – meet the panel for fostering suitability and approval
5. Your first placement!
