General information

Foster care TSD standards: Closure of CWDC online systems to new users from 9 January 2012
The Department for Education (DfE) have agreed that they will maintain the strategic lead for foster care work when CWDC closes in April 2012.  This includes the (TSD) Standards for foster carers.  All foster carers continue to be required to complete the TSD Standards within 12 months of approval (or 18 months for family and friends foster carers). Find out more

Being a foster carer is a unique and multi-faceted role. You may not even consider it as being an actual role or indeed as having a career, but what you do on a day to day basis as part of caring for the children you have, easily makes up for being a full time job in itself.

It is one of the few roles which can be seen as a career based in your own home. It involves you working closely with other professionals in social services, education, health care services and sometimes the Police and legal system.

  Quick links

Thinking of becoming a foster carer?

This information has been designed to help you find out all about foster care, what it is, how you can become a foster carer, and points you in the direction of where you can find out more if you need to.

• What is fostering?
• Who can be a foster carer?
• How do I apply to be a foster carer?
• What is a fostering agency and its role?
• Foster care regulations and legislation.
• Find out what children and young people think about foster care.
• Benefit of learning and development for foster carers.
• Foster care statistics.
• Useful websites and resources. 

Already a foster carer? 

Your main reason for becoming a foster carer was undoubtedly a want to care for and nurture children and young people. You will know that patience, resilience and being empathetic are just a few of the qualities you already posses. But what about the planning you do on a daily basis? Scheduling in looked after review meetings with social services, meetings with your and the child's social workers, specialist meetings with CAMHS, family contact sessions, school, doctor visits...the dentist, a full time job if ever there was one.

Have you ever thought about enhancing your skills through continuous professional development (CPD) - increasing your skills and knowledge through learning?

This could be anything from taking formal qualifications to a simple training session. You could even look into retraining in another profession or sector. The opportuntities available to you are endless:

Go to the Professional Pathways e-tool: foster care.

Benefit of learning and development for foster carers.

Information on other professions or sectors.