What is Fostering?

Fostering is looking after a child or children, brothers and sisters, or a mother and baby, in your own home, who for a variety of reasons is unable to live with their own family.

It is challenging and rewarding, exhausting and invigorating.  There is little in this life that will make you as exhilarated or can be as disappointing as watching children learn and grow.

When children need an alternative family they are taken into care by their own Local Authority.  Their social worker may find them accommodation within their own area, or may approach an independent fostering agency, like Family Matters, to place the child with one of our suitable foster carers.



Once a child is living with our carers the child’s social worker retains responsibility for them.  We look after and support you!

Fostering is always a team effort, and the “corporate parent” will include many people, including the Child’s Local Authority social workers, the foster carers, Family Matter Fostering social workers, therapists, doctors and sometimes the child’s own parents and family.

But it is the foster carer who gets up at night because the child is having nightmares; takes two trolleys round the supermarket because the family is so large;  comforts the child when they are missing their family, and celebrates when they do well at something or receive a good behaviour award at school.  It is the foster carer who makes a minute by minute, day by day contribution to the life, well being and future of the child or children placed with them.  It is the foster carer who makes the real difference.