Application to become a Foster Family

Personal Information

(All fields marked with * must be completed)

To make a difference to the life of a child is one of the most rewarding contributions for anyone in society. Together with teachers, health professionals, social workers and the police, foster carers are essential partners in teams working together to make a difference for children and young people in need. Child care is no one professional’s role and foster carers must be able to work in partnership to provide a high standard of care.

Foster care is the provision of good quality family care for a child or sibling group, who, for whatever reason, can no longer remain within their own home. At times a child’s behaviour may be challenging and difficult to understand. Essential to foster care is the recognition of a child’s individual needs, and being able to meet those needs with patience, care, tolerance and without discrimination or prejudice.

Independent Foster Care Services (IFCS) recruits, trains, prepares and assesses families who wish to become foster carers and provides comprehensive support for our foster carers in carrying out their essential role.

Foster families can comprise of couples or single carers and IFCS welcomes applications from all sections of society.

Of crucial importance to achieving a high standard of foster care for children is the provision of a high standard of support from IFCS. Our support to foster carers includes:

• Comprehensive preparation and induction training.
• On going training.
• A qualified support worker dedicated to supporting the individual foster family.
• Support available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from a professional, qualified and experienced worker.
• Emergency respite care available in crisis situations.
• Financial support of £345.50 per week for every child or young person looked after and £157.50 per week retainer paid when no children are in placement.

If foster care is undertaken without total commitment more hurt and pain can be caused to children who have already suffered.

If you believe you have this commitment to children, have a spare room and can be a full time foster carer please complete this application or contact us by phone on 02920 837320 or e-mail office@ifcswales.co.uk.

Find out more on becoming a Foster Carer with IFCS.