Are you a foster carer?

Local Authority Fostering South East is a collaborative partnership of 20 local authorities from across the region with a shared common goal - to recruit and support more amazing foster carers to provide safe, loving, and local homes for children in our communities, just like you.

The South East is the largest of nine regions taking part in this pilot project, in response to the urgent need for more foster carers across the country. 

This new virtual hub brings together the collective expertise and resources of local authorities across the region, ensuring prospective foster carers have access to a centralised platform for their initial enquiries about fostering.

The hub will not replace our local fostering service, which will continue to function as normal, but work alongside it to complement activity and grow the network of over 2,800 fantastic local authority foster carers throughout the South East. 

As current foster carers you are a vital part of this project and there are a number of ways you can get involved.

 

How to get involved

1. Attend our special launch event

A fun day with fostering families from neighbouring local authorities, to celebrate the amazing role you all play in caring for vulnerable children in our communities.

The Local Authority Fostering Southeast Launch event is being held on Saturday 28^th September 2024 at Wellington Country Park. Please contact the Family Placement Team via email (familyplacement@westberks.gov.uk) or via our phoneline on 01635 503155 for more information on how to secure your tickets.

2. Become a fostering ambassador

We want those considering fostering to hear what it's really like from the people who know best and that's you, our current carers. We're creating a network of fostering ambassadors to speak to people at a very early stage of their fostering journey, before they have even filled in an application. You will be paid for your time and can do this alongside fostering. Recruitment is already underway. If you would like more information, please contact Natasha Sampson (natasha.sampson@bracknell-forest.gov.uk) the strategic lead for our new hub.

3. Support our recruitment campaign

We know that word of mouth from current carers is one of the most effective ways for us to reach those considering fostering, so please continue to talk to people in your day-to-day life and encourage them to take on this important role.

West Berkshire Council offer £1000 to any of our existing foster carers who successfully refer "friends" to the fostering service who go on to become approved foster carers.

Local Authority Fostering South East will officially launch on 8 July 2024. We will be sharing content on our local social media channels, so please take a look and help support the campaign where you can by resharing posts with your own family, friends and professional networks.