Take the First Step Towards Fostering
Deciding to become a foster carer is a significant and life-changing choice. It can bring a mix of excitement and understandable nerves, but above all, it is deeply rewarding. Selecting the right agency to start your fostering journey is an important decision that deserves careful consideration.
Starting your fostering journey with Springfield Fostering is straightforward and rewarding.
We will support you at every stage of the process, guiding you along the way to ensure you feel confident, well-supported, and fully prepared to join our team.
Are You Able to Foster?
There are a few key questions to consider before you begin:
Do you have a spare bedroom?
Are you aged 21 or over?
Are you in good health?
Do you want to make a positive difference in a child’s life?
Are you open to challenges?
Are you keen to learn more about fostering and yourself?
Can you work well as part of a team?
If you can answer ‘Yes’ to all of these, we would love to hear from you. If you’re unsure about any of the points or have questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch—we’re happy to talk things through.
Considering a change? We make transferring to Springfield Fostering easy and straightforward.
If you are thinking about changing your fostering agency or transferring from your current local authority, we would be delighted to speak with you.
There are many reasons why foster carers choose to make a move, and at Springfield Fostering, we understand that this is an important step you want to get right.
Your Fostering Journey
We are happy to speak with anyone who is interested in fostering and believes they may have what it takes to become a foster carer. We understand that everyone is unique, with different strengths and experiences—just like the children in our care—so we welcome foster carers from a wide range of backgrounds.
We would be delighted to discuss your individual circumstances with you and explore how we can help you take the next steps in your fostering journey.
The home visit gives us the chance to meet you and anyone else in your household. We will want to learn more about you, your family, and your lifestyle, and to ensure your home is suitable for fostering. It is also a great opportunity for you to get to know us better. During the visit, we will answer any questions you have and provide more information about fostering with Springfield Fostering.
After the home visit, we hope you feel encouraged to continue your fostering journey with us. If so, the next step will be to complete an application form. We can guide you through this process if you would like.
You and your partner, if applicable, will be invited to take part in our foster carer preparation course. This course provides a clear insight into the day-to-day realities of fostering, as well as the impact fostering can have on carers, their families, and friends.
You will also learn about the legal framework that foster carers work within. The course will help you make an informed decision about whether fostering is the right step for you and your family at this point in your lives. It also allows us to better understand your suitability to become a foster carer.
Feedback from the course facilitator will form part of your overall assessment.
The fostering assessment is carried out by a skilled and experienced social worker, who will support you in reflecting on your skills, experience, and knowledge, and consider how your transferable skills can help you in the fostering role.
The assessment includes a series of meetings with your social worker, both in person and online, and you will be expected to take an active part in these sessions. You will also need to attend some training, which will be provided by the agency. All members of your household are expected to be involved in the application and assessment process.
Assessments usually take up to four months to complete, although the exact timescale can vary depending on your availability. We can progress more slowly or more quickly if needed, and we will discuss the pace that works best for you early in the assessment process.
As part of the assessment process, several statutory checks are carried out to help determine your suitability to foster. You will need to give your consent before these checks can begin. They include:
Health assessment completed by your GP
Local authority check
Enhanced DBS checks, with full disclosure of any convictions
Checks with your children’s schools (for those under 18)
Employer reference
Ex-partner reference (if relevant)
Pet questionnaire
Health and safety inspection of your home
Landlord agreement to use the property for fostering (if you rent)
Verification of your eligibility to live and work in the UK
If you have served in the armed forces, a Soldier, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) check will also be required.
Once your assessment is complete, it will be presented to the Springfield Fostering Panel, and you will be invited to attend. The panel is made up of independent members with a range of experience in fostering, health, education, and social work. They will review your application and assessment and provide a recommendation regarding your approval.
Following the panel, the final decision is made by our Agency Decision Maker. You will receive this decision in writing within 5 to 10 working days of your panel attendance.
The Types of Fostering We Offer
Springfield Fostering offers a range of fostering arrangements to meet the diverse needs of children placed with our carers. We use our knowledge and careful matching process to ensure the right fit for both children and families, helping children feel safe, secure, and at home.
Our carers provide care for children aged 0–17, including sibling groups and children with learning difficulties or physical disabilities. Sibling groups may be full siblings or those identified by the placing authority as able to live together. Children with learning or physical disabilities may need carers with specific additional skills. We make sure our foster carers are equipped to meet each child’s needs through ongoing, targeted training and support tailored to the children in their care.
This type of fostering is designed for children who need a foster home for a short period. This may be while they are preparing to return to their birth family or moving on to a long-term or permanent placement.
It can also include pre-adoptive placements. In some cases, the same children may continue to live with you on a long-term or permanent basis if this is agreed to be the best outcome for everyone.
In some cases, the best outcome for a child is to stay with a foster family for several years, or until they are ready to live independently. This is where long-term fostering plays an important role.
Children placed long-term become an integral part of the foster carer’s family, so you would need to be able to commit to caring for them for the agreed period.
As the name suggests, emergency fostering provides care for children and young people at very short notice. These placements may be required on the same day or night, including at weekends.
A short-breaks foster carer offers temporary care or holidays for children. This can be for a few days or longer, depending on the child’s needs. Whenever possible, we arrange planned short breaks so the child can develop a trusting relationship with the same carer.
Foster carers supporting children with additional or enhanced needs require strong self-awareness, reflection, and creativity. These qualities help carers respond to children in a thoughtful and holistic way, understanding the meaning behind their behaviours and what the child is trying to communicate.
Foster Carer Allowances
Our allowances are designed to fully support your care for a child. The core payment is based on a clear, age-banded structure agreed with the placing authority.
Our Allowance Structure:
- Standard Core Allowance: Ranges annually from £23,400 to £29,120 per child, increasing with the child’s age.
- Enhanced Allowance: For more complex needs, total annual packages (Excluding additional allowances) can be up to £38,480.
Every arrangement includes extra payments for holidays, birthdays, and festive periods. We are also committed to reviewing exceptional needs payments to ensure the child’s needs are fully met.
You will register as self-employed, and we will assist you with understanding the process. Foster carers benefit from specific, favourable tax rules.