Choosing the right fostering service

If you are considering fostering, you may be thinking about whether to foster with Brighton & Hove City Council, or whether to choose an Independent Fostering Agency (IFA). You may already foster with an IFA and wonder what you will gain from transferring. If this is the case, your assessment will be the same as for a new carer, but we are able to fast track some parts of your application.

We are proud of our fostering community and the incredible work our foster carers do for our looked after children. We want to create the very best experiences, support and training for our foster carers so they in turn can provide the most loving, stable and supportive homes for our children.

Our in-house carers are our priority

Most children fostered through Brighton & Hove are local to our area and all the referrals will come to us first as a local authority. As a general rule, we will place children with our in-house carers first, which means that by fostering with us you are unlikely to be waiting long for a placement. If we feel we can’t provide a suitable in-house match, only then will we consult outside agencies.

One team

As an in-house carer, your foster child’s social worker will be part of our wider team, often sitting in the same building, so communication about their needs can be easier and more efficient.

Not for profit

Most IFAs are run for profit by private equity investors, but as a local authority, we are not-for-profit; meaning that above all, it’s the children who benefit from what we do.

Growing community

You’ll become part of our growing and vibrant foster carer community, which we believe is the best out there. We're extremely proud of our foster carers and the amazing work they do and we'd love for you to join our team.

We arrange social events such as our annual Summer BBQ and Christmas Party, and we celebrate the successes of our carers and children with an annual awards ceremony. We provide activities for children in school holidays, and support groups for carers because we know that often the best source of support is from others in a similar situation.

You don’t have to live in central Brighton; we cover a radius of 25 miles around Brighton and Hove and have growing communities of foster carers in areas such as Burgess Hill, Peacehaven and Hurstpierpoint. So, don’t let geography hold you back from getting in touch.

Training and support

We believe, and our carers agree, that our package of training and support is second to none. We are continually working to enhance what we offer, and we work closely with our carers to support them in new and unique ways. If you need support or training in a particular area that is not covered, our dedicated Training Co-ordinator will source and provide options for you to consider, and you will have access to our Fostering Support Team 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Whether you are a prospective carer thinking about applying to foster, or an experienced carer wanting to transfer, we’d you to become part of the Brighton & Hove fostering community.

For more information about the benefits of fostering for your local authority, visit Foster With Your Council.