Benefits at a glance
Fostering is an incredibly rewarding experience. As a carer, you’re giving a local child a sense of belonging. Making a positive difference has an impact on all of our inspirational foster families. We want to make sure that you and the child in your care feel supported every day that they live with you.
We want to support our foster carers every step of the way throughout assessment and beyond into your fostering career. Our expert team is dedicated to providing the highest standard of care, so you can best help a child who needs looking after.
24/7 support whenever
you need it
We offer 24/7 support to all our carers, including a dedicated out of hours support line to provide help whenever you need it
You’ll be paired with your own social worker, based here in Solihull just like you. You’ll have regular one to ones and they’ll be there to support your fostering development.
Our team is made up of over 20 incredibly experienced workers, who have seen lots of different cases and helped to match 100s of children in need of a loving home.
We run regular, specialised support groups. Join our regular specialised support groups. Free to attend, they provide a space for your family, friends and birth children to meet like-minded fostering families.
When times get tough, we’re on your side to help a home match go smoothly. From dedicated helplines to a full therapeutic team and a dedicated fostering support worker for our borough, we’ll ensure the child in your care feels safe and secure and so do you.
"I've got great support with my family around me and also with the fostering team"
Financial benefits
Fostering is a career unlike any other, but still needs rewarding. We offer skills-based payments as well as allowances to support the child in your care.
On average, our foster carers receive £445 per week.
We offer up to £882.45 a year to help provide the child in your care with fabulous birthday celebrations, religious holidays and breaks away together.
Not every child enters fostering with the same belongings. We offer up to £400 for clothing and school uniform at the start of your placement.
You could be exempt from tax on all or the majority of your carer fees.
There’s no limit on the amount of annual leave we offer our foster carers. This is supported by respite carers who can look after a child in your care while you’re on annual leave.
We’ll cover up to 60 miles a week in mileage to support school runs and visits with birth family. After 60 miles, we’ll reimburse your mileage at 40p per mile.
"As foster carers, we do the amazing job of being that secure base for children whilst families can repair, and hopefully be reunited"
Samantha, Foster Carer
Local training that’s
easy to access
We want to give you the best skills to care for children in Solihull. This starts from day one of your assessment.
We offer a preparatory course for all new foster carers to make sure you’re ready for your first home match.
All of our training is easy to access, understand and apply. Better still, it’s all based locally in the Solihull borough.
We have a mix of online and in-person courses to suit your busy and varied lifestyle of fostering.
Your dedicated social worker will work with you on a Professional Development Plan to hone your skills and career growth.
Our training carries on year-round, including therapeutic courses such as our popular Fostering Resilience and The Solihull Approach classes.
“Fostering is about giving love and security to children who come into our home. If you’ve got place in your heart and your home, think about fostering"
Join a community of carers
As a foster carer, you’re never alone. Our community of carers meets up regularly to make new friends and share useful advice.
All of our carers gain access to The Fostering Network, the UK’s leading fostering charity.
We have regular support groups so you can meet with other carers in person, and introduce your wider network to other families who foster.
We hold regular social events year-round including our Christmas party and summer picnic.