Fostering

Foster carers are a valuable part of our community, who enrich the life of children in our borough who cannot be looked after by their own parents or family.

Individuals and couples should meet the following criteria:

• one main carer must be available for the children in their care
• you will need to have a level of stability and security in your life
• applicants must have a spare bedroom
• applicants must live in the London Borough of Bexley or a neighbouring borough

If you’re interested in becoming a foster carer contact the Fostering team:

• telephone 020 3045 4400
• email fostering@bexley.gov.uk
• online form

Anyone offering a stable, secure home who can commit to providing the care a child or young person needs, can foster, subject to the normal checks.

Foster carers can be of any age from 21 upwards, although you will need to have the health and stamina to care for somebody else's child.

You can be a foster carer regardless of your ethnicity, religion, sexuality or marital status.

Some foster carers have their own children, others do not - but you will need to understand their needs and have had experience of dealing with children.

Depending upon the type of care provided we offer a wide range of excellent financial, training and support packages.

• weekly allowances paid are generous and reflect the importance of the role the carer plays
• the amounts paid will depend upon the age and the individual circumstances of the child
• allowances to cover the costs of birthdays, Christmas and other special occasions
• grants to cover special needs or other particular requirements

• a member of the fostering team will contact you and will send you a questionnaire to complete and return
• all information received is treated as confidential
• your initial suitability is assessed based on the information given in the form
• you may then be invited to attend a fostering information session which will give you a more in-depth perspective of what being a foster carer for Bexley means
• there is no obligation, at this stage, to progress your application
• if you decide to proceed with your application after the information session, a social worker will contact you to arrange an initial meeting at your family home to discuss the rest of the process
• it can take from four to nine months from the initial visit to your approval as a foster carer

Short term fostering

• for children and young people who may return to their parents within a few days, weeks or months
• during this period the child usually still retains regular contact with their birth parents

Long term fostering

• for children who cannot return to their parents and need to remain in foster care until they are ready to leave home and lead an independent life

Respite fostering

• for short, regular planned stays

Connected persons / friends and family fostering

• this is short or permanent foster care provided by people related to or previously known to a child

Supported Lodgings Provider

• Supported Lodging Providers offer a room in their house and the emotional and practical support to enable a young person to gain the skills to live independently

Pioneer Fostering

• do you have professional experience of working with children? You may be interested in our Pioneer Fostering scheme
• contact us to find out more

Meet some of the people that are already foster carers for Bexley.

Watch our video below to hear about Isaac and Winnie's experience of fostering for Bexley.

Watch our video below to hear about Bob's experience of fostering for Bexley.

Watch our video below to hear about Kwasi's experience of fostering for Bexley.

Watch our video below to hear about Julie's experience of fostering for Bexley.

Watch our video below to hear about Rob's experience of fostering for Bexley.

Watch our video below to hear about Leigh's experience of fostering for Bexley.

Come along to our information evenings and meet members of the fostering team and some of our existing carers who can talk to you about fostering and answer any questions you may have.

• 2 May 2018, 7pm to 9pm
• 20 July 2018, 7pm to 9pm
• 8 August 2018, 7pm to 9pm
• 12 September 2018, 7pm to 9pm
• 24 October 2018, 7pm to 9pm
• 5 December 2018, 7pm to 9pm