Fostering Information

Fostering is a way of providing a family life for children or young people who can't live with their own parents or wider family.

It can be used to provide temporary care for children while their parents are receiving help to sort out their problems which has led to them being unable to care for their children, or in some cases it is for longer periods of time.

Many children will return home once any problems are resolved. Others may stay long-term foster care, or will be adopted, or be placed under other permanent arrangements, whilst older people will move on to live independently.

The future of fostering in Southend

There are three main routes into becoming a foster carer for Southend-on-Sea Borough Council; as a voluntary carer, a fee paid carer or as part of our new Southend Fostering Project where you could earn up to £25,000, plus fostering allowances a year.

Voluntary Carers often continue their own careers outside of fostering and are free to accept placements when it is best suited to their own family. They receive the same placement allowances and support as fee paid carers.

Fee paid Carers need to be able to take two children and one carer must be a full time carer. As well as the placement allowances for each child carers on this scheme also receive a monthly fee for their time.

Southend Fostering Project is a new development for people with at least one year's experience of fostering, or another closely related child care role, enabling them to earn £25,000 plus fostering allowances a year in return for taking care of older teenagers, children with particularly difficult life stories or larger sibling groups.

Further Information

Further information can be found in our related FAQ section on the right of the page.

The following documents can be found in the related downloads section, also on the right, Fostering Information Pack, Adoption and Fostering Equality Impact Assessment and Statement of Purpose for Fostering.

If you would like to find out more information about joining our team of professionals working to make a difference in the lives of children please get in touch and one of our team who will be happy to answer your questions.

We can be contacted as follows:

Online: By completing the Foster Care Enquiry form on the right

Post:  Southend Fostering Service
          283 London Road
          Westcliff on Sea
          Essex SS0 7BX

Telephone: 01702 354366

Email: fostering@southend.gov.uk