We are here to guide and support you through the process, every step of the way.
Before you can start fostering, there is a set process we must follow to get you assessed and approved as a foster carer. We are here to guide and support you through the process, every step of the way. Let us take you through the key stages...
It starts with an informal chat with our experienced fostering advisors. We’ll get to know you a little bit more and talk through your questions.
When you’re ready and at a time that suits you, we’ll arrange to visit you at home. We’ll talk you through the whole process and give you another opportunity to ask questions.
Once we all agree that fostering is right for you, and you feel ready, you’ll complete an application form.
An assessor will be assigned to help you and the Nexus Fostering team will be on hand to support you throughout.
The next few stages cover your assessment. This can take a few months but don’t worry, you won’t be alone.
Once we’ve received your application, the necessary background checks will be completed, and references gathered. It’s an important part, in safeguarding our children and young people.
During this phase, your assessor will take time to find out more about your life experience, the activities you and your family enjoy and all the great attributes you’ll bring to the role of a foster carer.
You will also participate in a Skills to Foster course, the first step in your dedicated training and development program provided by Nexus Fostering. You’ll join future carers for this interactive course providing you with invaluable skills and knowledge to support you throughout your fostering journey.
We’ll help to make sure you feel prepared for your interview with the panel team.
It’s the agency decision maker who will make the final decision to approve you as a Nexus foster carer.
Once approved, your dedicated social worker and placements team, will work closely with you to ensure you’re well-matched with a child or young person who needs you.
The important thing to remember is, this journey will be rewarding and life-changing… for you and the children you help.
One of our team will visit you, in your home, to have an informal chat about caring for vulnerable children and young people. We’ll chat about the process of becoming a foster carer, suggest useful books and research you may like to undertake, and chat about the role of a foster carer.
We match children carefully with our foster carers. During the assessment process, we will build up an understanding of what will work for you and your household which will help us to make good matches.
Yes. The matching process is important for you and for the child or young person referred to us. We match, carefully, your personalities, skills, and circumstances with those of the child or young person. We will discuss this with you, fully, during your assessment
We prefer foster carers to have an open mind about age groups as it provides carers with a lot more opportunities to care for children. We encourage foster carers to focus on the needs of the child, not their age and then decide if they're able to help them.
Single foster carer Maggie gave up her previous job to embrace fostering as her full-time career and hasn't looked back. Now, after reaching her first year of fostering, Maggie shared with us how she has welcomed two girls who are siblings into the household and found they have all bonded well together.
The longest period of time they have had a young person living with them was three years, which naturally came to an end when the young person had a reunion with their biological family. Nicky says " several children we have cared for have returned to their families, which is a lovely part of fostering."
Graham and Damian, specialise in fostering children with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities), fiercely advocating and giving the children in their care the childhood’s they deserve. Whether it be within education or social settings, the couple said, "we have fought for their voices to be heard and for them to have the support they deserve."
Children and young people come from different backgrounds, which is why we require foster carers who represent the diversity of today's society. Regardless of your sexuality, marital and relationship status, and whether you have children. You can foster.
Nexus Fostering is a fostering agency like no other. We believe all children and young people deserve a chance to live in a family setting, and we are proud that our foster carers and young people will always be our top priority.
A competitive allowance is rewarded to you as a foster carer for your valued work and for supporting the children in your care. We also offer payments for festivities, birthdays and holidays.
