Keeping children together
Management experience
Support for further education from Sunbeam's children's trust
Excellent support from your social worker
Experience and support for enhanced and complex placements
Passionate ownership
Competitive carer payments and support levels
Local support network
Loyalty and commitment
Strong Local Authority relationships
Diversity and connecting
Career path
High referral levels
The Sunbeam family
Brilliant activities for children
Supporting asylum seekers
Focused 1:1 induction
Positive values and care
Positive care leaver outcomes
Strong focus on qualilty
Placement success outcomes
Commissioning strength
Excellent training
Placement stability
Excellent staff resources
Access to therapeutic support
Excellent Placement Team
Data security matters
Membership to Foster Talk
24 hours - we are there for you!
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
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
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
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
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 fostering team
Who can foster?
Your 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.
