Fostering in the West Midlands

Foster a Child in the West Midlands

Acorn Fostering Services is a well-established, OFSTED-approved independent fostering agency servicing the West Midlands. We provide high-quality foster care placements to children and young people aged 0 to 18. Our experienced team works with local authorities, foster carers, and other professionals to offer a nurturing and stable family environment to children who cannot live with their family of origin. We are committed to promoting the best interests of looked after children and young people and ensuring their safety and well-being. If you are interested in becoming a foster carer or would like to know more about our services, our fostering agency in the West Midlands is ready to help you.

Why Foster in the West Midlands?

Becoming a foster carer in the West Midlands can be a fulfilling and rewarding experience. Countless children in the West Midlands are in need of foster care, and by becoming a foster carer with Acorn Fostering Services, you could help make a positive difference in their lives. As a foster carer, you will have the opportunity to provide a safe, stable, and caring home to a child or young person who may have experienced difficulties in their life. Giving a child a stable and supportive environment can help them reach their full potential and achieve their goals. Fostering can also provide personal benefits, such as learning new skills, meeting new people, and contributing to your community. If you are interested in becoming a foster carer in the West Midlands, Acorn Fostering Services is ready to help you learn more.

How to Become a Foster Carer in the West Midlands

If you are interested in becoming a foster carer in the West Midlands, you can contact our recruitment team to start the process. The recruitment team will conduct a telephone interview with you, and if successful, a social worker will visit you to carry out a preliminary assessment. After a positive recommendation at the preliminary assessment, you will attend a two-day assessment training called “Skills to Foster.” before being invited to make an application. Once an application is accepted a comprehensive assessment, also known as the Form F Assessment, will be conducted, which includes statutory checks such as DBS, your current and previous local authorities, and OFSTED. The assessment and approval process usually takes around 4-6 months on average, and you will need to attend the independent fostering panel with your assessing social worker for a positive recommendation. Once approved, you will be allocated a Supervising Social Worker who will provide regular support and training opportunities.

What Foster Training Is Available?

Acorn Fostering Services offers our foster carers a comprehensive and ongoing training program. Before submitting an application, prospective carers are required to attend a two-day mandatory training called Skills to Foster, designed to give them a realistic understanding of the responsibilities involved in fostering. After approval, each foster carer is allocated a Supervising Social Worker who supervises and supports them on a day-to-day basis, including attending meetings with them. Foster carers attend regular support groups, which can be virtual or face-to-face, and larger groups are held 2-3 times a year. They also have access to a WhatsApp support group and are paired with another carer in their area. The post-approval training program includes a mix of e-learning, face-to-face, and virtual training, with each carer having a Personal Development Plan to track their progress and identify areas for improvement. The agency provides a calendar of mandatory training events at the start of each year, allowing carers to plan their training around their fostering duties and commitments.

Areas in the West Midlands that we Serve

We are a fostering agency operating in various regions across the United Kingdom. In the West Midlands, we cover a number of areas, including:

Wolverhampton
Dudley
Walsall
Sandwell
Birmingham
Solihull
Coventry

Contact Acorn Fostering Services to Learn More

Fostering is essential for children and young people who cannot live with their family of origin. At Acorn Fostering Services, we understand the value of creating stable and nurturing family placements to help children and young people reach their full potential. We believe every child deserves the chance to experience the joys of childhood, which is why we are committed to providing high-quality foster care placements throughout the West Midlands. If you’re interested in becoming a foster carer, we encourage you to get in touch with us to learn more about how you can make a positive difference in a child’s life.

We also provide Foster Care in many other counties: