We Are Recruiting Foster Carers in and around Dorset
South Coast Fostering is currently recruiting foster carers across Dorset, including Bournemouth, Poole, Weymouth, Dorchester, Blandford Forum and the surrounding towns and villages. Children and young people in Dorset need safe, stable homes where they can remain close to their schools, friendships and local communities.
There continues to be a need for more foster carers across the county. When children are placed outside of their local area due to a shortage of carers, it can add further disruption at an already uncertain time. By fostering locally, you help children maintain important connections and provide stability when they need it most.
Everyone at South Coast Fostering is genuinely committed to supporting both foster carers and the children placed with them. Our work is guided by a clear purpose: to build positive aspirations in every child, carer and member of staff we work with. We believe that when carers feel confident, supported and valued, children are more likely to experience security and progress.
Fostering does not operate on a nine-to-five schedule, and neither do we. Our support continues beyond office hours, with 24/7 advice available whenever it is needed. We understand that challenges can arise unexpectedly, and our commitment to carers remains steady, even when situations become complex.
As an independent fostering agency focused on Southern England, we offer manageable supervising social worker caseloads, consistent communication and a relationship-led approach. We also provide competitive fostering payments of £479.50 per week for children aged 0–10 and £507.50 per week for children aged 11 and over.
If you live in Dorset and are considering becoming a foster carer, an informal conversation is a positive first step. We are here to answer your questions clearly and honestly, and to help you explore whether fostering could be right for you.
Values that lead us
01
Doing the right thing, not the easy thing
If something is the right thing to do, then we will always do it, even if it is difficult.
02
Treat Carers As Professionals
We are shocked when we hear how poorly some foster carers have been treated by their fostering service. At SCF we always treat carers as professionals.
03
Family
We see ourselves as one big family. This means we have a deep underlying respect for each other.
04
Always be learning
We see everyday, and every incident as a chance to learn and develop. We help carers and staff reflect on how their actions affect others.
book a call about fostering:
We’d be happy to give you a 15-20 minute call to tell you about fostering. Don’t worry, there’s no pressure from us – it’s honestly a chance for you to ask us any questions you have about fostering, and your suitability. Just complete this short form
The Heart of Being a Foster Carer
Becoming a foster carer is not simply about opening your home. It is about opening your life, your routines and, at times, your heart to a child who may be feeling uncertain, anxious or unsettled.
Many children who come into foster care have experienced disruption or instability. What they often need most is something steady — a calm voice at bedtime, reassurance after a difficult day at school, someone who remembers how they like their toast in the morning. These small, ordinary moments are what begin to rebuild trust.
As a foster carer, you may see a child gradually relax into your home. You might notice them beginning to laugh more freely, sleep more peacefully or talk more openly. Progress is not always dramatic, and it is rarely instant. Often, it is found in quiet milestones — the first time they ask for help with homework, the first time they invite a friend over, the first time they say they feel safe.
Fostering can also be emotionally complex. Some children will move on, whether returning to family members or transitioning to adoption. Saying goodbye can be difficult. Yet many carers describe a deep sense of purpose in knowing they provided stability at a crucial point in a child’s life. You may not always see the long-term outcome, but the care you offer becomes part of that child’s story.
At South Coast Fostering, we understand that fostering is both rewarding and demanding. It requires patience, resilience and compassion. That is why emotional support and reflective supervision are just as important as practical guidance. We stand alongside our carers through the challenges as well as the successes.
Being a foster carer means helping a child believe that safe, dependable adults exist. It means offering consistency when life has felt unpredictable. And while fostering will change a child’s life, many carers find that it changes theirs too — bringing perspective, connection and a strong sense of meaning.
If you are someone who can offer steadiness, warmth and commitment, fostering could be a powerful way to make a lasting difference.
Who we Work With
How can you help?
The following are a few ways in which you can help us, and children in your local community.
Talk to your friends about fostering
If you can’t foster yourself you could talk to your friends and family to see if they can. We will actually reward you for anyone that becomes an approved carer for us.
Give a helping hand to a care leaver
Care leavers might need a helping hand, we have some ideas about how to help