Therapeutic Fostering
News Centre

The Children’s Commissioner has launched the biggest ever consultation with children

Closing date approaching for Fostering & Panel Administrator - 26th March 2021

Dame Rachel de Souza’s first message as she begins her term as Children’s Commissioner for England

We have a new Children's Commissioner

Brecks Story

We recognise that children and young people are now spending more time than ever online - particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lock downs. We also recognise that some adults will try to exploit this opportunity to meet their own gratification.

NEW JOB - We are Looking for a Fostering & Panel Administrator.

Due to the retirement of the existing post holder an opportunity has arisen to join us in this very important role as Fostering & Panel Administrator

Children’s social care questionnaires 2020

What children and young people have told us about their experiences of living in children’s homes, in boarding schools and with foster carers

Signs of Exploitation

Would you know the signs? Parents are often the first to notice that their child is being exploited. It is so important to act quickly and intervene early if you suspect your child is being exploited. Listen to some affected parents talk about the changes they noticed in their child.

Fostering Network - January e-newsletter for fostering service members

SKY News Reports COVID-19: Call for foster parents to get vaccine priority amid fears over infection

The pandemic has made it harder to place the UK's 65,000 foster children, partly due to vulnerable carers' fears of infection.

Open letter to Nadhim Zahawi - Make sure foster carers are priority for a vaccine

The Fostering Network's chief executive, Kevin Williams, has written an open letter to the Westminster Government's minister responsible for the rollout of the Covid 19 vaccine programme in England, Nadhim Zahawi MP, emphasising the importance of prioritised foster carers in England for a jab.

We offer FREE Legal Advice for our Foster Carers through Fostering Network

Our Foster Carers are fully protected in their roles. All of our foster carer members receive market-leading legal protection insurance that covers the whole fostering family. Open the Blog to see whats on offer......

Star of the Week!

This week one of our youngest members of our fostering family achieved star of the week at nursery. We love the share the success of all our children and show the amazing progress children make in foster care.

Covid-19 Update: Latest Restrictions & Tiers

Following the Prime Minister’s recent statement to parliament, England will come out of lockdown on 2nd December 2020 and the following tier system will be in place. Here is the detail in full:

Coronavirus (Covid-19) - support for foster carers

We know that these are unsettling, unprecedented and challenging times for everyone - not least those involved in caring for and supporting children in foster care. We are extremely grateful to all those involved in fostering who provide support and stability to children and young people in foster care and we will do our utmost to play our part in this. Across the UK government guidance is changing to respond to the pandemic, rather than reflect the changes on our website, we are linking to the latest country guidance that details government restrictions for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Guidance on local restrictions is contained within each of these links. This page lists useful resources, helplines and advice and is being regularly updated. There is a similar page for fostering services.

Anti-Bullying Week 2020: United Against Bullying

The theme for Anti-Bullying Week 2020 is: United Against Bullying. Anti-Bullying Week will happen from Monday 16th - Friday 20th November and will start with Odd Socks Day to mark the first day of Anti-Bullying Week. Last year 75% of schools in the country took part, reaching well over 7 million young people.

Tick the Box

Tick the Box week 2020 is running from 23-27 November where we're coming together with young people, UCAS, universities and colleges to encourage care experienced students to tick the box to say they have spent time in care when they apply for further and higher education and ensure they can access the support they are entitled to.

Anyone Can Apply to Foster?

Like the children and young people they look after, foster carers are diverse and come from different ethnic, religious and LGBTQ+ communities.

Keeping precious memories safe

Petrina discovered that her father was an identical twin who had been separated from his siblings during the Second World War. It was her father's experience in care that led her to become a foster carer in 2003.

The biggest challenge is what you don’t know

Together with her husband, Veronica cares for two young women, one of which is an asylum seeking teenager

COVID-19 Information for Carers

Find information and guidance from the UK Government regarding the current outbreak of coronavirus.

Lockdown education and transitioning back to school

To understand more about fostered children’s experiences of education during the pandemic, The great team at THE FOSTERING NETWORK launched a rapid response survey (from 18 - 30 June 2020) for foster carers and fostering services across the UK.

Response to new children's social care regulations in England

Last week the Department for Education made temporary changes to 10 sets of children’s social care regulations in England. The changes were intended to introduce greater flexibility for local authorities and providers operating under the current challenging circumstances.

Not forgotten: The importance of keeping in touch

Former foster carers can play an important role in children’s lives, helping them to settle in a new home, offering support at difficult times and enabling them to make sense of their past.

152 organisations call on Government to put children first

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been widespread, affecting the lives of every baby, child and young person in the country. This generation of children face unprecedented threats to their childhoods and life chances. They deserve an unprecedented response.