Fostering South West

Your gateway to local council fostering

Becoming a Foster Carer is a journey unlike any other, where you have the profound opportunity to make a real difference to one of the children in care across our region. Help make a child’s life extraordinary today.

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Welcome to Fostering South West, the combined voice of local council foster care across the whole region. For the very first time, we’re coming together behind a shared mission: to welcome more people into the rewarding journey of foster care and improve experiences for both carers, and the children they nurture.

About us

Our philosophy is all about collaboration – sharing knowledge, and creating better futures for children, together. As part of this collective fostering community, we are also offering prospective foster carers an increased level of support through the creation of a specialised support hub. Take the first step in your fostering journey and get in touch with a member of our team today!

Why foster with your local council?

Choosing to become a foster carer with a local council offers numerous benefits:

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Keep children local

If children aren’t fostered through their local council there are occasions where they may have to be placed outside of their hometown, removing valuable connections and support networks. All of the councils part of Fostering South West are committed to keeping our children local, enabling them to maintain a sense of familiarity, stability and belonging.

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Training and development

Continual learning and development is an important part of your role as a foster carer. Each local council provides a comprehensive training program to equip you with the skills needed before embarking on your first placement. You will have access to continuous learning opportunities, allowing you to enhance your abilities and enrich your fostering experience.

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Work with a Not-for-Profit

As local councils, we are proud to operate as not-for-profit entities. Acting with the best interests and needs of the children we care for and our foster carers at the heart of everything we do. This means that all our financial resources are dedicated to improving our services and put back into our community.

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We love seeing the positive changes in the children we look after. Seeing the smiles on their faces and being their safe place. The good times certainly outweigh the difficult times, and we plan to continue fostering for a long time to come.

Jo, Foster Carer, Plymouth City Council

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We love seeing the difference we make from the time they come to when they leave. Helping them to form good attachments, achieve their milestones and be happy. Also being able to keep in touch with their forever families and see their progress.

Teresa, Foster Carer, Plymouth City Council