Welcome to Acorn Fostering Services

“Caring Together to Change Lives”

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Who We Are

Acorn Fostering Services is an Ofsted approved and registered agency.Ā 

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Want to Become a foster carer?

Contact us today to find out how we can help you to help a child’s life.

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Our Values

Helping to rebuild young lives with passion is at the heart of everything we do.

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What do Foster Carers do?

Find out more about what your would be expected of you as a carer.

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Our Services

We provide a wide range of short and long-term fostering placements. Learn more here.

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Providing Foster Placements in Leicestershire, the Midlands, and the Northern Counties

We are one of the leading independent Ofsted approved and registered fostering agencies in the UK. Acorn Fostering Services is a well-established, medium-sized, private foster care agency based in Leicester City.

We founded Acorn Fostering Services in 2004 to provide a high quality and supportive fostering agency service in Leicestershire, the Midlands and the North of England.

Enquire to become a Foster Carer today!

Please fill in the form to download our information brochure and start your enquiry,Ā a member of the team will be in contact shortly.

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    24 Hours Library

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    Qualified Teachers

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    Fostering a Child or Young Person

    We need more Foster Carers in East Midlands, West Midlands and North of England! Call us today to enquire!

    As a progressive fostering agency, we are always happy to welcome and support new carers, as well as experienced professional foster carers wishing to work with a more supportive fostering agency. Fostering is a vocation, so we provide extensive guidance and support for all our carers.

    Acorn Fostering Services’ foster carers are fully supported and guided by our team who have substantial experience in social welfare and fostering.

    Foster Care FAQs

    You can apply to foster whether you are single, or a couple. Although you don’t need to be a parent, you will need to be able toĀ demonstrate that you have the ability toĀ nurture and supportĀ a child. Generally speaking, you need a spare bedroom to foster, however a child up to theĀ age ofĀ two can stay in a foster carer’s bedroom.

    Ā 

    During your assessment you will be asked about the type of child you feel would easily fit in with your family, skills and ability.

    You will be able to choose age and gender.

    When you are offered a placement you will be given information about the child and their circumstances and you can ask questions that help you decide.

    Ā 

    We need to know that you are psychologically and physically fit for fostering and you will be required to undergo a medical assessment at your GP surgery.

    If you have a medical condition and you are a hospital outpatient, we may seek further information about this from the hospital with your consent. A medical condition does not necessarily preclude you from applying.

    Ā 

    Flexibility in your working hours allowing you to prioritise a fostered childā€™s wellbeing and safety will be required, but it is entirely possible to work and foster.

    Working and fostering and your individual circumstances will be discussed with you before your assessment begins, including how you will cope emergencies and your support network.

    Ā 

    At Acorn Fostering Services, we talk about the family fostering as all members of the household should be committed to accepting and supporting a child who comes to live with you.

    Your assessor will speak to everyone in the household, so that they understand what necessary changes are required to accommodate fostering.

    Ā 

    Being able to evidence stable household finances for fostering is very important.

    Foster placements are not guaranteed and there may be times you do not have a child in placement when the fostering allowance is not paid.

    Ā 

    We are happy to welcome approved foster carers into our growing team of carers and we can support you through this process.

    There is a transfer of foster carers protocol for England.

    Approved foster carers can transfer agencies even with a child or children in placement however there should always be child-centred planning and decision-making.

    Please contact Acorn Fostering Services for advice on your personal circumstances and you will be guided through the process.

    Ā 

    You will need to provide the details on your application form of three personal referees one referee must be a family referee.

    The referees should have known you for at least three years and for couples must be able to provide information on both applicants.

    The agency will send references to the referees for completion and your assessor will arrange to meet with them during your assessment.

    Ā 

    If you have a permanent lodger or non-family member who has lived with you for over 12 months, you may still foster.

    If they will not be leaving the home they must agree to be part of the assessment.

    This involves statutory checks and meetings with your assessor to determine their suitability for living in a household with a fostered child.

    Any other rental arrangements could prove too complicated and not feasible for fostering.

    Ā 

    The fostering regulations require criminal record checks to be made on everyone applying to foster and those living in the household age 18 and over.

    When you apply to foster you will need to disclose all criminal cautions and convictions. These will be discussed with you and the fostering agency will obtain an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring check.

    Minor offences should not prohibit you from foster caring, however offences against children and sexual offences would prevent you from applying.

    Fostering agencies update this check at regular intervals post-approval.

    Ā 

    Having pets does not prohibit you from fostering, in fact, in many cases pets can add to the therapeutic environment for a foster child.

    Your pet must be risk assessed as part of the process of becoming a foster carer, in particular it’s temperament and behaviour around children.

    Additionally, as a pet owner you will need to consider how you would feel if a foster child injured one of your pets.

    Ā 

    Foster carers are expected to give fostered children opportunities to experience family events and going on holiday is an excellent example of one of these.

    The childā€™s social worker makes the ultimate decision on whether a child is allowed to go. Normally, this is seen as beneficial to the foster childā€™s experience of being a part of your family.

    If you cannot take a child abroad, you will need to think about how a child can experience a holiday in the UK.

    Ā 

    Generally, fostered children remain at their same school with the same teachers and friends. This provides them with consistency when everything else in their lives are changing.

    The exemption to this is a long-term placement where a change of school can be considered.

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    It is inevitable when the placement ends it will be an emotional time for all concerned.

    Remember, your family will have played an important part in preparing a child for what comes next in their journey. You and your family can take satisfaction from the positive change a child will have gone through during their time in your care.

    Ā 

    Foster Carer Support & Training

    As a highly respectedĀ fostering agency based in Leicester, East Midlands, we are confident that our foster carers will receive theĀ best support and training available.

    Whether you are attracted to fostering as a result of a change in family life, or are looking for a new career in child care, we will train and support you all the way.

    Fostering is rewarding in many ways ā€“ as a committed carer you will be helping children and young people in need have a better life ā€“ and for that, you will beĀ suitably paid.

    So call Acorn Fostering today to discuss how to become a foster carer.

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    What "Our Carers ā€ Say About Us

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    Our Teachers

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    Child Psycologist

    Everyone at Acorn Fostering Services is fully dedicated to supporting ā€˜looked after childrenā€™ and their foster carers.

    Our Staff

    Our staff team is made up of a Senior Recruitment Officer, 3 Supervising Social Workers, a Service Administrator, a Placements Administrator, a Finance Officer and a part-time Support Worker. We also have independent support workers that we can call upon to work with children and Independent Social Workers that act as Independent Reviewing Officers at foster carer annual review meetings.

    Padora School I

    Jl. Sekola Panda I Block D No.88 Dermawartani, Clasan. Souleman. Special Region Baharina Town. Call : 081-88X7-45GH-887C

    Shadab Ahmad

    Director and ADM

    Director Shadab is a qualified social worker with over 32 years post qualifying experience. He has an MA in social work and has worked in Local Authorities and the NSPCC as a manager before setting up Acorn Fostering Services in 2004. His main area of interest is protecting vulnerable children and providing them with new opportunities. He has experience of working with children in need, looked after children and child protection cases.

    Padora School II

    Jl. Madrapatma IX Block A No.12 Dermawartani, Clasan. Souleman. Special Region Baharina Town. Call : 081-88X7-45GH-887C

    Anupam Srivastava

    Director

    Director Anupam is a qualified social worker with over 34 years of post-qualification experience in social work. He has an MA in social work and worked with both statutory and voluntary sector. Prior to setting up Acorn Fostering Services in 2004, he was a neighbourhood Coordinator with Leicester City Councilā€™s Neighbourhood Renewal Programme. Anupam has vast experience of working with children and families.

    Padora School Center

    Jl. Kodokan Block F No.12 Dermawartani, Clasan. Souleman. Special Region Baharina Town. Call : 081-88X7-45GH-887C

    Kshama Srivastava

    Director

    Director Kshama has a background in Human Resources Management. Up until June 2014 she was working as a Human Resources professional in the NHS. In 2014, Kshama decided to leave her employment with the NHS to play an active role in Acorn Fostering Services. In her capacity as a Director, Kshama has assumed a lead responsibility for consultation with Staff, Foster carers and other stakeholders, Policy Review, and development along with bringing a vast and valuable contribution in the form of her knowledge and skills and abilities in the field of HR Management.

    Shadab Ahmad

    Director and ADM

    Director Shadab is a qualified social worker with over 32 years post qualifying experience. He has an MA in social work and has worked in Local Authorities and the NSPCC as a manager before setting up Acorn Fostering Services in 2004. His main area of interest is protecting vulnerable children and providing them with new opportunities. He has experience of working with children in need, looked after children and child protection cases.

    Anupam Srivastava

    Director

    Director Anupam is a qualified social worker with over 34 years of post-qualification experience in social work. He has an MA in social work and worked with both statutory and voluntary sector. Prior to setting up Acorn Fostering Services in 2004, he was a neighbourhood Coordinator with Leicester City Councilā€™s Neighbourhood Renewal Programme. Anupam has vast experience of working with children and families.

    Kshama Srivastava

    Director

    Director Kshama has a background in Human Resources Management. Up until June 2014 she was working as a Human Resources professional in the NHS. In 2014, Kshama decided to leave her employment with the NHS to play an active role in Acorn Fostering Services. In her capacity as a Director, Kshama has assumed a lead responsibility for consultation with Staff, Foster carers and other stakeholders, Policy Review, and development along with bringing a vast and valuable contribution in the form of her knowledge and skills and abilities in the field of HR Management.

    Lionel Boyce

    Registered Manager

    Lionel has 43 yearsā€™ experience of working in the social care field, ranging from his early work with people with severe mental and physical disabilities and working and managing in older personā€™s homes, working with children and families in a child care team. Over the last 25 years, Lionel has worked with children, in a child care operations team in various local authorities. Lionel moved to fostering in 1993 initially as a social worker and then as a team manager and service manager with local authorities and independent fostering agencies.

    Julie Bailey

    Deputy Manager

    Julie has 13 yearsā€™ experience as a qualified Social Worker with Acorn Fostering Services. Julie started her social work career with Acorn in 2009, firstly as a Supervising Social Worker, then as Acornā€™s Recruitment Officer. In October 2015 Julie moved to the post of Placement Manager where she has been able to use her knowledge of our fostering households to inform the risk and assessment process when matching placements. In October 2016 Julie was promoted to Deputy Manager where she has the responsibility of overseeing the Recruitment Team as well as continuing with the Placement Manager.

    Our Staff

    The rest of Acornā€™s team have between them a wealth of experience gained from a variety of different settings all of which contributes to a well-informed, supportive, and stable team. We are a medium sized team with a friendly, professional approach to our work; made up of people from different backgrounds, experiences, cultures, and religions. We value our staff and are committed to helping them explore their interests through training and personal development.

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