Fostering enquiries
How to become a foster carer
Contact the Fostering Recruitment and Assessment Team:
Freephone
(+44) 0800 195 1183
Or complete the form below and a member of the team will get in touch:
How to become a foster carer
How to become a foster carer
We need your help
We are looking for 100 new foster carers each year and you could be one of them. As a foster carer we'll work with you and other professionals to provide the best for our children and young people. We are looking for people from all backgrounds and from all parts of Lancashire to play their part.
By recruiting additional carers we can ensure that foster placements are decided on a child’s identified needs, by allowing a much greater choice of placements. With your help we can make this happen.
Apply to be a foster carer
If you are interested in becoming a foster carer, and wish to find out more, we'd love to hear from you. Our friendly Fostering Recruitment Team will be happy to help.
You can contact us in a number of ways:
- Complete the fostering enquiry form
- Call us freephone (+44) 0800 195 1183
- Attend a fostering information event
Be a foster carer for our outstanding fostering service
Our foster carers are from many different backgrounds. You must be at least 21, but it doesn’t matter whether you’re:
- married, living with someone or single
- living in your own home or renting
- able-bodied or living with a disability
- working or not
- living with your own children or without children
- white or from a minority ethnic background
- male or female
- heterosexual, gay or lesbian
What matters to us are your personal qualities and what you can offer to a child or young person – patience, flexibility, understanding, self-awareness, fairness, determination, being keen to learn and appreciating each child’s personality and needs.
Quotes from Lancashire foster carers
Marcia
"The best part is seeing children change from quiet and withdrawn to bubbly and having fun. When they are relaxed, they look different - you can see the change in their eyes. I feel a sense of achievement seeing the children just being children."
Ian
"Out of the blue this week, a lad we'd fostered turned up at our house to see us! He said he would never forget the time he had with us and had been desperate to visit for ages, but couldn’t get the transport organised.
"He’s coming for his tea next week, along with another guy we fostered at the same time. What a wonderful surprise. My wife was in tears she was so happy to see him. I’ll tell you what, money couldn’t buy moments like that."
Julie
"It's often said that you only learn to drive once you have passed your test. It’s exactly the same with fostering. The thorough training provided by Lancashire County Council is both interesting and extremely informative, but it’s only when you start putting the theory in to practice, once children are placed with you, that you start to realise what a challenging, emotional and fulfilling role you have taken on."
Marcia
"There is always someone at the end of the phone should I need to talk to someone or get some different strategies for dealing with certain behaviours."
Marilyn
"…and the rewards are huge. You get so much back from these kids, especially if they've had a bad start, when you can see them develop and start to show emotion and learn to stay within the boundaries we set.
"When they arrive, I tell them I’m Marilyn. But they all call me Mum."
Liz (previously looked-after child)
"[moving into a foster home] is pretty scary; but Mum made me feel welcome and wanted. It was great to have my own room. Fostering has been a very positive experience for me and I feel really lucky to be a part of my ex-foster mum's family."
Marcia
"I feel privileged to have known some lovely children and young people who have enriched our lives. I feel proud that I have given them the opportunity to experience living in a positive family environment. Simple things like walks in the park, baking cakes, or cooking and eating as a family can make a huge difference to a child's life."
Liz (previously looked-after child)
"So many children need a good home and to be allowed to be children. I feel I had my childhood taken away from me. Since moving in with Mum I have gained happiness. There are many children out there who deserve the chance of a positive family experience.
Julie
"It's been hard work but my word, the sense of achievement we feel and the pride we have for the lads we've fostered cannot be measured. To us, fostering has been the most wonderful experience and we wouldn’t swap places for anything."