What support do foster parents receive after approval?

After approval, foster parents usually receive structured supervision, ongoing training, practical advice, financial guidance and support with the day-to-day responsibilities of caring for a child. The support is provided by the fostering service and is intended to help you make safe, informed decisions throughout each placement.

A supervising social worker is normally your main point of professional contact. They can help you understand your responsibilities, prepare for placements, reflect on challenges and communicate with the wider professional network around the child. This may include liaising with the child’s social worker, education professionals, health services and birth family where appropriate.

Your supervising social worker may support you with:

• understanding the child’s care plan and the information provided before a placement;
• settling a child into your household and establishing routines;
• responding to behaviour, communication needs or changes in circumstances;
• recording important events and sharing information appropriately;
• raising concerns about safeguarding, health, education or contact arrangements; and
• preparing for meetings, reviews and changes to the placement.

Training continues after approval. Approval is not the end of the learning process. Foster parents are expected to complete further training and development so they can build their knowledge as their experience grows and as the needs of the children they care for change. Topics may include safeguarding, attachment, trauma, safer caring, child development, managing behaviour, first aid and supporting education or health needs.

Training may be delivered through organised sessions, online learning, discussions with social work professionals or practical resources. You may also be asked to keep a record of your learning and consider how it affects your approach to fostering. The training required will depend on the fostering service, your approval terms and the needs of the child placed with you.

Regular supervision and reviews provide an opportunity to assess how fostering is working for you, the child and everyone in your household. These discussions can cover the child’s progress, your training needs, relationships within the home, record keeping, safer caring arrangements and any support you require. Foster parents also take part in formal reviews of their approval, where their experience and ongoing suitability are considered.

Financial support is generally provided through fostering allowances or other payments set by the fostering service. These are intended to contribute towards the costs of caring for a child, such as food, clothing, activities, travel and household expenses. The amount and payment arrangements can vary according to the service, the child’s needs and the type of placement. Ask for the current allowance information before applying and check which expenses are included or claimed separately.

Financial guidance can also help you understand how fostering payments may interact with your household budgeting, tax position and other income. Circumstances differ, so you should obtain independent financial or tax advice where necessary rather than relying on general information.

Support is also available when a placement is being considered or changes. Before accepting a placement, you should be given relevant information about the child’s needs, history, routines, risks and contact arrangements, subject to the information that can lawfully be shared. This allows you to discuss whether the placement is suitable for your household. If a child’s needs change, the fostering service should review the arrangements with you and consider what additional guidance or resources may be required.

Foster parents can usually access a wider professional and peer network. This may include support groups, foster carer meetings, experienced-carer advice and opportunities to share practical knowledge with others who understand fostering. Peer support can be useful for comparing approaches, reducing isolation and learning how other carers manage everyday situations, although professional advice should be used for safeguarding or significant care decisions.

You remain responsible for following your fostering service’s policies, keeping appropriate records, maintaining confidentiality and reporting concerns. Support does not remove those responsibilities, but it gives you a clear route for seeking advice and reviewing decisions. Before approval, ask how supervision is arranged, what training is compulsory, how allowances are calculated, who to contact about a placement and how concerns are escalated. These details will help you understand exactly what support you can expect after approval.