Talk to us about becoming a foster carer

Interested in looking after children in your home on a short and long term basis? Fill out the form below to learn more about fostering.

Launch a rewarding career in child care

If you live in a loving, stable home and would like to offer a vulnerable child a safe place to stay, becoming a foster carer could be for you. Foster carers are paid to look after children who are temporarily or permanently unable to live with their birth families. They are child care experts working with a team of professionals to give children a brighter and happier future.

Why foster?

Fostering is not just a career, it is a role that blends into and enriches your everyday life. It gives you flexibility and you can work from home. In some cases, it is possible to combine fostering with other work, too, depending on the needs of the children in your care. The main reason why people foster is because it is extremely rewarding. Still, it can be challenging, so we invest in our carers with a full support package:

Professional fee

As part of a social enterprise and independent provider, we offer financial renumeration for your hard work. For almost all foster carers, this will be tax free. 

Specialist training

We provide a free, comprehensive training package to all our foster carers. Starting with the Skills to Foster course, we also run specialist courses that are available online and/or in-person from our local office. 

24/7 support

Our team of support staff work closely together, so you are guaranteed effective, professional advice, whenever you need, no matter who picks up the phone. 

Activities and mentoring

We get together as one big extended family for away days and monthly support sessions.  We can buddy you up with an experienced foster carer mentor and arrange respite care and short breaks when you need it. 

Can I foster?

There are some basic criteria you’ll need to meet to be considered as a foster carer with Quality Foster Care. You will need to:

  • Be passionate about making a difference for a child or young person
  • Be over the age of 21
  • Have a furnished spare room that is not used by anybody else
  • Be committed to undergo training and development
  • Be able to work in partnership with the team involved in caring for the child/young person

Support that’s local to you

We know how important relationships are. Having a local office means:

  • Less travel and more face-to-face time with our supportive team
  • Opportunities to join local events in and around Essex
  • The chance to form close relationships with other local foster carers

Hear what our foster parents say about fostering with us…

"To anyone considering becoming a single foster carer, I strongly encourage you to check it out. I’ve been so lucky in that I have a wonderful support network around me; my friends and family have been incredible. The support workers at Quality Foster Care go above and beyond to let you know they are always there to call on; if you need any help, never be afraid to ask."

Anne

"There’s no greater feeling than knowing what is technically your job means you’re helping people at their most vulnerable find a place to grow into the people that they have the potential to become."

Pete
Next testimonial
Next testimonial

We’re looking for foster carers

Whether you’re new to fostering or have years of experience with a local authority or other fostering provider, we’d love to hear from you. We’re looking for foster carers in the following locations and surrounding areas.

  • Benfleet
  • Basildon
  • Canvey Island
  • Clacton
  • Chelmsford
  • Essex
  • South East London
  • Southend-on-Sea
  • Wickford
  • …and all places in between

Speak to our team about fostering