Becoming a foster carer in the West Midlands

You’re on your way to changing a child’s life. We can’t wait to help.

Foster children in the West Midlands need around 1,000 new families. And with our support, you could be just who they’re looking for.

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Thinking of becoming a foster carer? You’ll be joining hundreds like you who made the selfless choice to open their hearts and homes to local children in need. Thousands of children and young people in the West Midlands rely on people like you for safety, security and care at a difficult time in their life, so you can stand to make a real difference by making the decision to foster in your local area.

Before you get there, however, you have a lot to learn about the ins and outs of fostering and how it can impact on your life. From the very start of your fostering journey, our West Midlands fostering experts will be there to help you, offering 24/7 support and at-your-door training and advice to give you the best possible start on your road to becoming an effective and dedicated foster carer.

So, what are you waiting for? If you’re ready for a new challenge and want to give back to your local community, there’s no better way than by inviting a vulnerable child or young person into your home. To get into fostering in the West Midlands today, call us on 0808 284 9226 – we can’t wait to set you on the path.

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Where You’ll Find Us

We support every local authority in the West Midlands, so whether you’re planning on fostering in Birmingham, Warwickshire, Worcestershire or Staffordshire, we can help you start your foster family.

Local training will give you the skills you need to work with children and young people, while 24/7 help and support from our experienced fostering experts means you’ll never feel alone on your fostering journey. Not only that, but all NFA foster carers can access regular support groups in their local area, where you can talk to others in a similar position and share your experiences of foster care.

With round-the-clock support from dedicated social workers to local training provision from our regional learning and development specialists, you’ll always have someone you can turn to for help and support when the challenges of fostering become too much to bear alone. We’ll do all we can to help when times are tough, and are always available for a chat should you never need us.

Offices

Training venues

Support group centres

Are You Fostering Material?

The great thing about fostering in the West Midlands is that almost anyone can get involved. Your cultural background isn’t important and you don’t need any qualifications. As long as you have a passion for people, you’re on the right track.

Find out if you’re suitable for fostering by taking our two-minute quiz.

Take the quiz

You’re perfect!

You’re not quite ready yet

It sounds like you’ve got the love to give and the time to spare. So we’d love to invite you to start your journey as a foster carer with us.

You need to be able to answer ‘yes’ to all the questions in our quiz to become a foster carer. Get in touch for some friendly advice about making the necessary changes to start your journey with us

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What Would You Like to Know?

Fostering is a big decision and you probably have many questions to ask before you get started. That’s where our fostering experts come in. Give us a call on 0808 284 9226 and we’ll be happy to help, or, read our FAQs below to get the information you need.

Where do I need to go for training?

With a view to make it easy for our foster carers to access training and support, we have regional offices and training centres across the UK. In the West Midlands, you’ll find our main training and event venues in Telford, Cannock and Solihull, while there are also several more regional centres where you can access ongoing training or meet up like-minded foster families.

Can I take a foster child on holiday with me?

Sure you can, as long as it’s OK with the child’s social worker. Holidaying with your foster child is a great way to bond as a family, and, as it may be the child’s first ever holiday, taking them away is always a really rewarding experience.

Remember, though, that you must check-in with their social worker before travelling. It’s also a good idea to make sure they have the right passport and immigration documents before you book any overseas trips, as some children and young people may not have the same rights to travel if they or their birth parents were born overseas.

Do foster children have to change schools?

Really, it’s better if they stay in the same school. With the upheaval of being removed from home, children need normality and routine, and switching schools may serve to further feelings of insecurity.

However, on some occasions, it may be decided that it would be best for the child to move to a new school, particularly if they’re staying with you for a long time. Talk to your social worker and the school to decide on the best course of action for the child.

How does Reward Club work?

As an NFA foster carer, you can earn rewards by referring people to our fostering agency. For every successful referral who signs up to become a carer, you’ll earn reward points which can be put towards special treats for your foster family – be it a day out, shopping trip or short break away.

What if I’m already a foster carer?

If you’ve already taken the amazing step into fostering, you can still sign up with the NFA in the West Midlands and feel the benefit of our award-winning service and support. All it takes is a phone call to us, and we’ll guide you step-by-step through the process. Give our West Midlands fostering experts a call today on 0800 044 3030 and we’ll be happy to help you make the switch to the NFA.

What’s it like to be a foster family?

Read our collection of stories about the trials and tribulations of foster families from the West Midlands and further afield. Just like you, they’re out to make a difference.