fb

Enquire Now Become a Foster Carer in Dunstable Contact Us We provide free training and support to foster carers in Enquire Now Become a Foster Carer in Dunstable Contact Us We provide free training and support to foster carers in

Getting started with fostering

How to become a foster carer in Dunstable

There are a number of things involved in the process. For example, local authority check, police check, and medical checks etc. Normally this can take from 3-6 months depending on how quickly we receive these checks and other related actions to become a foster parent.
You will receive full support at all stages and help with anything you are unsure of.

Fostering in Dunstable with Sunbeam Pride Fostering Agency

Sunbeam Pride Fostering Service is an Independent Fostering Agency registered with Ofsted providing high quality and well supported fostering placements for a diverse range of looked after children and young people.

The company was established in 2009 to provide specialist placements for children with complex and challenging needs as well as mainstream foster care. Sunbeam Pride is part of the Sunbeam Fostering Group, one of the largest and most progressive independent fostering agencies in London and the Midlands.

Sunbeam provides local support for carers in Dunstable and surrounding areas through our registered office in Luton. Which means you will have a local supervising social worker with local help and support. Also, we have other support staff on 24/7/365 basis who will help you with any help and support you need while fostering with Sunbeam.

Sunbeam Fostering Agency is one of the largest fostering agencies in the UK, we have offices all around England, please visit our contact us page to locate the nearest Sunbeam office to Dunstable.

Why Sunbeam

Reason why you should choose us

At Sunbeam, we are proud of our standards and the support and training that we provide to our foster carers. We are driven by children’s needs.

Don’t hesitate, contact us for better help and services. Call us at 020 8799 0930 write to us at info@sunbeamfostering.com

Simple process

Steps to become a foster carer

The process of becoming a foster carer is summarised below. Click each step for information to be displayed below. You will receive full support at all stages and help with anything you are unsure of.
01
Gradation Image
Make an Enquiry
Call us or complete an online enquiry form Sunbeam will contact you for an initial discussion and arrange for an enquiry form to be completed over the phone or online.
02
Gradation Image
Initial Home Visit
A worker from Sunbeam will visit to discuss fostering with you further, to gather some background information about you and your family and to check you have appropriate bedroom space in your home and discuss any other Health & Safety related issues.
03
Gradation Image
Preparation & Training
You will receive specific training through a three day training course to prepare you to foster and to achieve “Skills to Foster”. Attending courses will also allow you to meet other carers, share experiences and learn more about foster care.
04
Gradation Image
Approved
The Agency decision maker will have the final decision regarding your approval. Once approved you will then be a registered carer with Sunbeam Fostering Agency, and be able to take “looked after children” and young people into your home and care for them.

Become a Foster Carer

Take a first step towards fostering, get in touch with our Dunstable fostering team





    Who can foster?

    You age should be be at least 21 years-old (although by law you can apply to foster from 18) and to have a spare bedroom big enough for a young person to live in.

    Fostering Allowance

    As a foster carer, you will receive fostering allowance which normally covers things like food, clothing, transportation, pocket money, outings etc.

    What foster carers are saying

    Foster Carer
    Foster Carer

    This job is probably one of my favourites. Every day is different, every day has new challenges and every day has new rewards. It’s not always easy but each challenge you go through with the child bonds you and makes you both stronger for each other.

    Hannah and Kashif
    Hannah and Kashif

    We have been fostering for the last 8 years and feel proud to be a part of the Sunbeam family. At the beginning, we thought it’s a tough job, but the skills to foster initial training and the whole assessment procedure to become a carer was interesting, and it gave us both a broad insight into both the tough and rewarding side of what we were likely to encounter.

    Asma
    Asma

    “Fostering is a rewarding experience as it allows you to actually make a difference for a child/young person. I feel happy being able to make such a difference whether it is for one day or several years.”

    Karen Thorn
    Karen Thorn

    “When they told me that I had been approved for fostering, well I just cried. I was an emotional wreck and was so happy that I just couldn’t hold back my very, very, happy tears.”