Foster mum with child

Call 020 8496 3437 or complete our online enquiry form

Enquire now

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. 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. 

Find out more
Girl on swing

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

  1. Pay of up to £467 per week per child which includes your fee in recognition of your skills
  2. 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
  3. Discounted membership at any of our six leisure centres in Waltham Forest for you and your family
  4. Outstanding preparation and on-going training (Ofsted commended)
  5. A dedicated Social Worker and out of hours support

Case studies

  • Valerie and Patrick's story

    I have always lived in Waltham Forest and wanted to help on our own door step, there is so much need within our own community. A few of the children we have fostered have gone to schools that I attended as a young person and it’s been good to be able to go back to them for meetings.

    We found the process of becoming foster carers really good. Our dedicated Social Worker would visit us around once a week and we’d explore our own backgrounds and look at the realities and challenges that children in care would face. She also gave us homework. This really prepared us well.

    Read more

  • Simone and David's story

    We have been foster carers since 2009. We became specialist foster carers looking after children with challenging needs after we retired as managers of a children’s home.

    We have fostered ten young people since 2009 and nearly all of them were teenagers. One of the children we fostered is still with us at the age of 23. We love the fun that the teenagers we have fostered bring to our home, we believe that they stimulate you and keep you younger. The best thing about our role is of course the children and the appreciation that they eventually express.

    Read more

The process to become a Foster Carer

The process to becoming a Foster Carer can take 4 to 6 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 takes up to 6 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 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 ‘Skills to Foster’ two 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 you will be asked to submit a formal application and 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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