About the team

We are committed to caring for the young people in our east London borough that need a home and the fostering team work closely with the fostered children’s social workers to make sure everyone's needs are met.

Waltham Forest Council are dedicated to achieving the best for our children in care. We do not make any profit from fostering, unlike private fostering agencies that run as a business to maximise profit for shareholders. 

We offer what we believe to be one of the best packages for Foster Carers in the UK which includes up to 66 per cent off council tax and subsidised Waltham Forest Better leisure centre membership for the whole family.

We have also implemented the Fostering Network Mockingbird model which provides increased peer to peer support. 

We are proud to be winners of the Children and Young People Now, Public Sector Children's Team 2021 Award for our recruitment and training. 

We are part of Local Community Fostering service, a network of four northeast London boroughs with an ambition to inspire more people from all walks of life, to become foster carers. 

The award winning Waltham Forest Fostering Team consists of a number of different highly trained and qualified people who are there to help you along your fostering journey. 

Our locally based Fostering team includes:

• A Recruitment, Training and Development Officer who will book your initial home visit with a social worker and support you throughout the application process. They also work alongside your social worker to identify and address your training needs. A wide selection of class room based training is available throughout the year. They  also coordinate support groups such our ‘teenager foster carer support group,’ and ‘male carers’ support groups.

• Social Workers who will visit you in your home at a mutually convenient time to discuss your application further and support you through the first stages of your journey to become a foster carer. They will also be your trainers at ‘Skills To Foster’- a two day course which prepares you for the role of fostering.

  You will have a dedicated Social Worker from the start of your assessment through to after your approval when you start to care for our young people. Please read more about the process. As an approved carer you will receive ongoing support from your dedicated Social Workers.

• A Team Manager and Deputy Team Manager who are available to speak to you at any point of during your application and after your approval.

We are based at Waltham Forest Fostering Service, Fellowship Square, Waltham Forest Town Hall, Forest Road, London, E17 4JF.