Pearl’s Fostering Story: Life is Never Dull
“Fostering is not for everyone but for me it’s the most rewarding thing that I have ever done.”
September 14, 2022
Whether you are considering fostering for the first time or looking for a fresh start with a fostering service that listens, you will find expert guidance, practical support and a strong sense of community at Flourish.
Could you offer a child or young person a safe, stable home? Learn what fostering involves and how we will support you from your first question onwards.
Looking for more consistent support, clearer communication or a fresh start? Have a confidential conversation about transferring to Flourish.
For us, therapeutic fostering means looking beyond behaviour and understanding what a child may be communicating through it. It also means creating the right environment around foster parents: clear communication, dependable relationships, thoughtful training and help that is available before a challenge becomes a crisis.
That is why our approach involves the whole Flourish team. You will have specialist expertise when you need it, but you will also have people who know you, understand your household and are committed to helping you make a lasting difference.
Your social worker, regional team, therapy team, trainers and practical support colleagues work together, so you are not left to join the dots.
Our relationship-led approach helps foster parents look beyond behaviour, understand what a child may be communicating and respond with confidence.
Foster parents need time to rest and recharge. Flourish provides 21 days of paid respite each year.
Foster parenting is a professional role. Our fees and allowances reflect the skill, commitment and responsibility involved.
You will have a dedicated supervising social worker and a responsive team who take time to understand you, your household and the children in your care.
Develop your confidence through specialist training and opportunities to work towards recognised qualifications.
Learn about Flourish from those who live it every day.
"The support from Flourish is fantastic with brilliant training and a family feel that I haven’t experienced from other fostering agencies."
“Fostering has been the most rewarding job we’ve done and we have some wonderful memories from over the years”
“It was a big decision, but it’s the best thing I’ve done. I’m settled now, I’m not looking over my shoulder, and I know I’m in the right place.”
Our regional teams support foster parents across the North West, South West and South East. Local support can include home visits, training, support groups, community events and opportunities to meet other foster families.
Our foster parents come from all walks of life, and each brings unique experiences and perspectives. Your own life experiences could make you a great match for a young person. And while every foster parent is different, there are a few things they all have in common:
They care deeply about young people and want to make a positive difference in their lives.
They’re willing to listen, grow and learn new ways to support a young person.
They can work through challenges with patience, understanding and perseverance.
They’re ready to provide the consistency, stability and support a young person needs.
“Fostering is not for everyone but for me it’s the most rewarding thing that I have ever done.”
“Being a Foster Parent is something not to be taken light-heartedly” Leah says “But we couldn’t imagine doing anything else. I’ve always liked people and we both find it easy to find the good things
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Every fostering journey begins with an informal discovery chat.
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If you seem like a good match, a social worker will come and visit you in your home to explore fostering further.
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By completing an application form, your fostering journey officially begins.
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A social worker completes a full assessment (Form F), which goes to a panel for approval.
The core principle of therapeutic fostering is: if children are provided with the right environment and support, they can heal from past traumas and begin to thrive. Please visit our therapeutic fostering page for more information about what therapeutic fostering is
To become a foster parent with Flourish, you will need to be flexible, honest, and resilient. The most important thing is that you can see the potential in every young person, be reliable through the tough times, celebrate the good times and offer a secure, loving and caring home for a child.
Flourish organises lots of activities and events throughout the year for families and children to attend. This helps to provide positive experiences for children living with a foster family to realise that they are not alone. We actively encourage our Foster Parents to meet regularly to build friendships, share experiences, have fun together and support each other.
When it comes to applying to be a Foster Parent with us, your passion, attitude and commitment to making a difference in a young person’s life are what we care about. Not your race, religion, gender or marital status. However, some things are essential:
You must be aged 25 years or over:
If you would like more information about if you’d be the right fit, why not take our 2-minute foster parent self-assessment quiz.
At Flourish, we truly believe that the main reason to foster is to help vulnerable children grow and develop. However, we treat our foster parents as professionals. Our foster parents are given financial payments that cover the cost of caring for children and young people (maintenance) as well as a payment for their service (professional fee). This enables foster parents to commit to foster parenting as a full-time career. We operate a tiered payment structure, varying according to the type of fostering undertaken, the child’s age and needs, and the foster parent’s experience.
It usually takes around 3 to 4 months to become an approved foster parent. The exact timescale depends on your circumstances and how quickly checks and references can be completed, but we’ll support you every step of the way.
If you’re transferring from another fostering organisation, the process is often much quicker. In many cases, transfers can be completed in as little as 6 to 12 weeks, depending on your individual circumstances.