Foster carers provide safe and loving homes for children who can't live with their own families.
This can be for a few weeks, months, or until the child becomes an adult. These children may have faced difficult experiences or their families might not be able to care for them safely.
Who decides when children need foster care?
Local authorities and the courts decide when a child can't stay with their family.
Surrey County Council Fostering Service supports these children and their foster carers. We find suitable foster families to ensure children are well cared for and have the best possible future.
What do foster carers do?
Foster carers do many of the same things parents do, like:
- Taking children to and from school
- Taking them to medical and dental appointments
- Attending meetings
- Visiting friends
- Supporting the child with their needs
People from all walks of life can become foster carers. We provide training, assessment, and ongoing support to help you care for children.
Foster carers are part of a team of professionals who help children adjust to a new family life and recover from traumatic experiences they may have had earlier in their lives. We will help you think about whether looking after children for short or longer periods of time works better in your situation.
Are there different types of fostering?
There are many types of fostering and lots of different children need foster care.
This includes babies, teenagers, groups of brothers and sisters, children with disabilities and young people who are seeking asylum and safety in the UK.
