News & guides
Useful reading for the curious, the nearly-ready and everyone in between. Start with the question that brought you here.
A good place to start
Five questions worth asking before you choose a fostering agency.
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6 articles
Getting started
Yes. Care, consistency and commitment are what matter. Here are a few things to think about.
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Getting started
Your experience can be a strength. The conversation starts with your life now, and what you could offer.
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Getting started
You don’t need a partner to foster. You do need the time, stability and support to care for a child.
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Home & family
What to know about the spare room, and why it is part of the fostering conversation.
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Choosing your agency
A useful first conversation should leave you clearer about the people, payments and support around you.
Read the guideSCF news · January 2026 inspection
Read the independent findings from South Coast Fostering’s Ofsted inspection.
Read the story ↗News and articles
The Guardian has published a news story on the number of children referred to NHS mental health services for anxiety in England
It may be useful to alert Foster Carers to this, and/or to open up /have a discussion with young people directly. Instagram is
Introduction: Why Somatic Awareness Matters Have you ever walked into a room and instantly felt tense, even though nothing seemed wrong? Or
The end of the year is a time of reflection, so praise yourself for the difference you have made to children’s lives,
In the fast-paced world of fostering, it’s easy to become consumed by paperwork, procedures, and deadlines. Meetings, case files, and compliance checks
Pulling together key themes compiled from NSPCC : Listening to and capturing the voice of the child is central to effective safeguarding
Safeguarding is a key role of foster carers, and when a child is not where you expect them to be, they may
We’re reminding young people that Childline is confidential and here to help. As Pride Month gets underway, we’re reminding children and young
When talking about Neurodiversity, it is important to understand the language we are using. People will generally fall into one of two
A conversation, at your pace
You don’t need to be ready to apply. A friendly conversation can help you work out your next step.
Usually 15–20 minutes. No pressure to apply.
