We are celebrating Foster Care Fortnight 2021

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Anyone can foster, even you.

Could you offer a supportive, loving home to a vulnerable child in Waltham Forest?

We are looking for new Foster Carers based in and around Waltham Forest to provide a family home for children who can't live with their own families. This care can sometimes be short term emergency care or a more permanent arrangement.

We care for children from all and ethnic backgrounds and welcome carers from all backgrounds, of all ages, ethnicity, sexuality and single parents too!

You will need patience, humour and energy to look after a child. You will also need to have a spare bedroom. Being a Foster Carer is like being a parent, but is also a paid professional role which involves training and support and working with other professionals such as social workers & teachers, to give the child the best chances possible in life.

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Why become a foster carer?

We do not need to know the beginning of a child’s story to change the ending

Fi Newood, Foster parent and author

Pay of up to £476 per week per child which includes your fee in recognition of your skills
Up to 66 per cent off your Council Tax bill if you live in Waltham Forest or a payment toward your Council Tax if you live out of the Borough
Discounted membership at any of our six leisure centres in Waltham Forest for you and your family
Outstanding preparation and on-going training (Ofsted commended)
A dedicated Social Worker and out of hours support

Case studies

Jennifer and Vincent's story

Jennifer and Vincent, are new foster carers who took in their first child, a boy aged five, during the lockdown in January.

“Our main motivation to become foster carers was the fact that there was a need for carers. We wanted to offer our help and support to families during troubled times, to help them get back on their feet or offer them respite.

“Throughout the whole application the process was very efficient. Due to the fact we were in a pandemic, the majority of our meetings were done via online platforms. It worked out quite well for us. We found everybody that we had dealings with very helpful, very understanding that we were new to this and they offered us plenty of support. Our social worker was amazing, we made a real bond which we still have to this day."
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Pauline and Julien's story

" We have been fostering for over 17 years. We mainly foster teenagers although in the past we have fostered children as young as eight years old. Both of our long-term foster children arrived at age 12.

“We began fostering when our children were becoming teenagers and we felt that we could share our home and family with other children. Our only daughter was actually the one to point out an information evening being held regarding fostering. Having visited relatives in Canada (Julien’s Mum and Sister) who were fostering at the time, we were able to see first-hand how rewarding the fostering experience could be when we saw the young people thriving in the home and becoming part of the family."
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The process to become a Foster Carer

The process to becoming a Foster Carer can take four to six months. We will support you through every step of your fostering journey with us, from application through to approval.

All applicants go through a two stage process to become an accredited foster carer. We have outlined the stages below that explain how you can become a Waltham Forest foster carer.

Stage 1 to 3 takes up to 2 months

Stage 4 to 6 can take up to 4 months

Step 1

Enquire

It's easy. Fill in our online enquiry form, email or call 020 8496 3437

Step 2

Appointment

An appointment with a social worker may be offered to you to discuss the fostering process further, view original proof of your identity, complete a formal application form and for us to find out a little more about you.

Step 3

Attend Training Programme

If we are happy and you are happy you may be invited to join the virtual ‘Skills to Foster’ one day training programme. This is designed to prepare you for the role of becoming a foster carer and provide you with the opportunity to decide if this is right for you. There will be some fast track cases where stage two begins after the appointment.

Step 4

Review

On successful completion of the 'Skills to Foster' training your home assessment will start. You will have approximately six to eight prearranged visits with a dedicated social worker to complete your fostering assessment.

Step 5

Agreement Assessment

You and your social worker will attend the Waltham Forest fostering panel where your approval will be considered. The panel will make a recommendation to the Agency Decision Maker who makes a final decision about whether to approve your application to become a foster carer. Once you are approved, we will sign an agreement with you, setting out your responsibilities as a foster carer and our duties to support you.

Step 6

Approval

Your dedicated social worker will continue to provide you with ongoing support as well as training and development opportunities. You will attend support groups and workshops and have links to other support such as Waltham Forest Foster Carers Association and the Fostering Network (the National body for Foster Carers for advice and support).

Enquire Now

Enquire now

Take the first step to become a Waltham Forest Foster Carer and change a child’s life forever. Fill in this quick form or call us on 020 8496 3437. A member of our team will get in touch to discuss further.

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