When you decide to foster, one of the first choices is which organisation to foster with. Many carers choose their local authority, while others go with independent fostering agencies (IFAs).
Local Authority Fostering South East is a not-for-profit partnership of local councils. We prioritise matching children with local carers, helping them stay close to friends, family, and school, and giving you the first opportunity to foster locally.
All our training and support is provided locally, which is why many carers transfer from IFAs. Fostering with us not only helps children stay near home but also supports the wider community.
What makes us different?
We asked our foster carers in the South East what they thought makes fostering with their local authority unique. This is what they told us. Local authorities….
- Are not profit-making
- Give foster carers easy access to support services
- Offer local training
- Include their foster carers as part of the team
- Give their foster carers employee benefits
- Give foster carers more of a say in who they care for and use in-house carers first
- Are grounded in their local community
Why choose us for your fostering journey?
Keeping children local
Being in care can be an unsettling time and this can be made much harder when children have to move to an unfamiliar area. Local authority foster carers care for local children, which means they are often able to retain important links, like friendship groups, schooling and hobbies
No profit motive
Local authorities are not-for-profit organisations which means the interests of the children we care for are our priority. Our money is spent on ensuring children have somewhere safe to call home and supporting our foster carers to provide this
Becoming part of the South East’s fostering family
Becoming a local authority foster carer in the South East means joining our network of over 2,800 amazing carers, all sharing knowledge and working together to build brighter futures for children
Part of a professional network
Local authorities have a statutory responsibility for children’s social care within their area. Our carers become part of the professional network directly involved in fulfilling this responsibility, working closely with other agencies involved in children’s social care including: schools, health services, and youth support organisations. This ensures children receive comprehensive support across various domains of their lives
Stability and continuity
Local authorities often have longstanding relationships with foster carers and are committed to providing stable placements for children in their care. We take a holistic approach when matching children with foster families, considering the individual needs, preferences, and strengths of both to provide the most suitable and supportive environment throughout your time together
Local training and support
Local authority foster carers have access to local support and training opportunities which is tailored to their needs and the needs of the children in their care. This includes access to: social workers, counselling services, training programmes, support groups and the Mockingbird programme. These are provided locally, making accessing them and the wider fostering support network a lot easier
New foster carer or looking to move organisations?
Whether you’re just starting out on your fostering journey or are an experienced foster carer, get in touch and speak to our friendly recruitment team who can tell you more about why you should foster with your local authority.