Foster Care Across Preston and Lancashire

Across Preston and the rest of Lancashire, there are children who need somewhere safe to live when they cannot live with their own families.

Some children and young people stay with foster carers for short periods, while others stay for longer giving children a safe, supportive environment.

Whenever possible, children are placed close to familiar surroundings. Remaining near their school, friends or birth families can help reduce disruption during an already difficult time.

That means there is an ongoing need for people willing to foster in Preston and across Lancashire. Providing a caring home can give a child or young person the opportunity to build confidence, enjoy greater stability and reach their full potential

What Does a Foster Carer Do?

Being a foster carer is often very different from what people expect. It is not about having all the answers or living a perfect family life. It’s about being there for a child who needs consistency, safety and  someone they can rely upon.

Some days are made up of ordinary routines like school runs, helping with homework or sharing an evening meal. Other days may involve attending meetings, training, completing recordings, working alongside your social worker or supporting a child through a challenging period.

Every child brings their own personality, background, and experiences, making every fostering experience different.

The everyday moments often have the biggest impact, helping children and young people feel valued and giving them the confidence for the future.

Could You Become a Foster Carer in Preston?

Many people dismiss the idea before finding out what’s actually involved. In reality, foster carers come from all kinds of backgrounds, and every application is considered individually.

You could become a foster carer if you:

• Have a spare bedroom.
• Can provide a caring, loving, safe home for a child.
• Have the time to meet a child’s needs.
• Are prepared to work closely with your supervising social worker.
• Want to make a real difference to children and young people.

If you are interested in fostering in Preston but aren’t sure whether you meet the requirements, we would encourage you to make an enquiry to us.

Why Choose Foster Cares as Your Fostering Agency?

Choosing between fostering providers is about much more than the assessment process. Once a child is living with you, knowing you have specialised 24-hour support can make all the difference.

At Foster Cares Ltd, we pride ourselves on creating a strong fostering community, building lasting relationships with carers and providing support tailored to every family.

When you join us, you will benefit from:

• A dedicated supervising social worker allocated to your family
• Comprehensive training sessions to develop your skills
• Generous financial package.
• 24-hour advice from our fostering team

• Local support groups
• Social Events
• Membership to FosterTalk a national support service for foster carers

Training and Support Throughout Your Fostering Journey

Looking after a child in your care can be rewarding, but it’s perfectly normal to come across situations you have never experienced before.

That is why we provide outstanding support through your supervising social worker, building a strong relationship with you, your family, and the children in your care, and remaining by your side every step of the way.

Our local team provides regular supervision, practical advice, and opportunities to learn from experienced carers within our close-knit fostering community. We offer a comprehensive training programme, support groups, a peer buddy system, and ongoing learning opportunities, helping you build the skills, confidence, and knowledge needed throughout your fostering journey.

Whether you are welcoming your first placement or have years of experience, you will always have someone to turn to when you need advice 24/7 .

Fostering Allowance

One of the first practical questions many people ask is about the fostering allowance.

We provide a generous fostering allowance for every child in your care, helping to cover the day-to-day costs of providing high-quality foster care, alongside a professional fee that recognises your role as a foster carer.

In addition to the fostering allowance, we offer a range of extra financial support, including birthday allowances, holiday allowances, and festival allowances, ensuring children and young people can enjoy important celebrations and experiences.

Before any child moves in, we will explain exactly how the allowance works, the financial support available to you, and the current UK tax arrangements for foster carers, so you can feel fully informed and confident about what to expect.

What Happens After Your Enquiry?

Getting started is much simpler than many people expect.

Your first step is completing our enquiry form and speaking with our Recruitment Social worker to explore if fostering is right for you and your family.

We will start with an informal conversation about your circumstances, talk through the eligibility criteria, answer any initial questions you may have, and explain what becoming a foster carer involves.

The next step is a home visit, where we will have a more detailed discussion. This gives us the opportunity to get to know you and your family better, explain the assessment process in greater detail, and provide a deeper insight into both the fostering role and our agency.

Once this stage is complete, you will be invited to attend our Skills to Foster Training. This mandatory course is designed for everyone considering fostering and provides an opportunity to reflect on how fostering will fit with your family life. It also offers a deeper understanding of the expectations, responsibilities, and realities of being a foster carer.

After completing the Skills to Foster Training, you will be allocated an assessing social worker who will begin the formal Form F assessment, which is completed in two comprehensive stages.

Throughout the assessment process, you will receive ongoing support and guidance from your assessing social worker while continuing your training and learning more about the fostering role. The assessment is designed to help everyone determine whether fostering is the right choice, while ensuring you are fully prepared to provide the best possible care and support for children and young people.

It is also an opportunity for us to get to know you, your family, your experiences, and your strengths, helping us understand the type of fostering that may be the best fit for you.

Supporting Foster Families Across Preston and Lancashire

Although this page focuses on foster care in Preston, our fostering team works with carers right across Lancashire and throughout the North West.

We work alongside local authority teams to help find suitable homes for vulnerable children and young people , matching them carefully with foster families wherever possible. Whether you live in Preston itself or a nearby town, we’ll be happy to explain how Foster Cares Ltd can support you.

Request Your Free Information Pack

If you’re interested in fostering in Preston, our free information pack is a helpful place to begin.

It includes information about:

• Why Foster ?
• Different types of foster care.
• Who can foster
• Your fostering journey .
• The assessment process.
• fostering and your family ?
• Foster care support.
• Training and ongoing guidance.
• Common questions about fostering.

You can read through everything at your own pace before deciding whether you’d like to take the next step.

Thinking About Fostering in Preston?

Many people spend weeks or even months considering whether fostering is right for them before making contact. There is no expectation that you will have every answer before getting in touch.

If you are thinking about becoming a foster Carer or would like to foster in Preston, we would  be happy to have an informal conversation with you. We’ll explain how the process works, discuss your circumstances honestly and help you decide whether Foster Cares Ltd  is the right independent fostering agency for you.

Complete our enquiry form, request your free information pack or speak to a member of our team today. If you decide to move forward, we will be with you throughout your fostering journey, helping you provide the care children and young people across Lancashire need.