Fostering in the South East
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Become a therapeutic foster parent in the South East
At Flourish Fostering, we provide therapeutic fostering across the South East — supporting foster parents who want to offer children stability, understanding and hope.
Our in-house therapy team works alongside our social workers to deliver a fully integrated therapeutic model of care.
Our South East and South West fostering service was rated Outstanding by Ofsted following an inspection in March 2025. Read the Ofsted report.
We support foster parents across:
- Kent
- Surrey
- East Sussex
- West Sussex
- Hampshire
- Berkshire
- Buckinghamshire
Whether you’re interested in fostering in Kent, Surrey or Sussex, our South East team is nearby and ready to support you.
What makes therapeutic fostering different?
Therapeutic fostering recognises that children’s behaviours are often rooted in trauma.
Our model ensures foster parents:
- Understand trauma-informed parenting
- Receive consistent therapeutic guidance
- Have access to reflective spaces
- Are supported with placement matching
- Feel confident in meeting children’s emotional needs
This joined-up approach helps both children and foster parents thrive.
Our South East office
Our South East office serves as a central hub for foster parents in the region.
Here, we provide:
- Therapeutic training
- Support groups
- Reflective practice sessions
- Community and networking events
Being regionally based allows us to maintain strong, responsive relationships with our foster parents.
Flourish FosteringThe Cedars
Holborough Road
Snodland
Kent
ME6 5PL
0808 129 5311
hello@flourishfostering.co.uk
Meet some of our South East team
Wendy Smith
Lead Psychotherapist - South
Wendy is an MA qualified Child and Adolescent psychotherapist with over 20 years of experience in the fostering sector. She started her work with foster children as a foster parent, fostering 4 teenagers with her family over a 14 year period.
“I love nothing more than seeing relationships grow and deepen. Foster parents are like neurosculptors, shaping the developing brains of children through love, consistency, and connection. It’s a privilege to witness the resilience of these young people and the transformative power of therapeutic care.”
Karen Heard
Registered Manager - South
A social work manager in fostering for over 12 years, Karen was a Foster Parent herself for nearly 25 years, providing her with invaluable experience that she can pass onto other Foster Parents. Karen has completed extensive training in therapeutic fostering and prior to working in the sector, she worked in the mental health sector and understands the resourcing difficulties facing children and young people in care who may need additional support.
“It’s important to me that Foster Parents feel at ease from the very first moment they contact us. As well as my dedication to all the families working tirelessly with us now, I’m here to give people interested in fostering with Flourish any information they may need, along with all the necessary support when they become Foster Parents. I believe we deliver the very best service and we work as a team to continuously improve and support our Foster Parents, children and young people.”
Change a child's life as a therapeutic foster parent.
Speak to us confidentially about fostering