We’re an award winning foster care agency recruiting foster parents in Essex, Suffolk, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, North Kent and Worcestershire.
Putting your foot on the fostering ladder can be daunting
Applying to become a foster parent can feel like a leap in the dark. It can be difficult to know if you’re making the right decision, if the grass is greener with this agency or that local authority or if the organisation you choose to go with is the right fit for you. It’s a major life-changing step and, in order to make it, you deserve total transparency. Applying to become a foster parent is the start of a long, comprehensive process and, from the minute you make that first enquiry, the team at Mosaic Foster Care will be there to guide you through every step.
Why apply with Mosaic Foster Care?
“What tipped the balance in favour of Mosaic Foster Care was the first person I had contact with there. She was brilliant. She was really honest, she didn’t beat around the bush, she listened. She explained everything I wanted to know and she wasn’t giving me the hard sell, it wasn’t pushed or forced, the discussion felt very natural and I immediately liked what they stood for.”
Livvy E, Colchester
The solid foundations you can count on with Mosaic Foster Care
Stability is always our number one priority
At Mosaic Foster Care, everything we do is designed to support stability – from our long-term focus to the training, matching and therapeutic input that helps children stay in one home for as long as they need.
Exceptional support from day one onwards
Our in-house therapeutic team on hand to support you, our expert-led comprehensive training provision and 24/7 standby support are in place from the start – so you’re never left waiting when a child or your family needs help.
The right match is what matters most
We don’t rush the matching process. Our carefully staged approach ensures you’re fully informed and confident you can meet a child’s needs – giving each placement the best possible chance of long-term success.
Mosaic is an Ofsted Outstanding Fostering Agency
- where ordinary people are empowered to make an extraordinary difference.
Applying to be a foster carer with Mosaic Foster Care – the basics
If you’re thinking of applying to be a foster parent with Mosaic Foster Care, it’s only natural you will have questions. Our comprehensive introduction gives everyone the chance to ask all the questions they need – of our foster parents, our support staff and our therapeutic experts. But here’s some of the basic information everyone thinking of applying might need:
- No formal qualifications are needed to become a Mosaic foster parent, although some experience in caring for children is always advantageous.
- Sexual orientation and marital status are not taken into account.
- As long as you have a safe home, only convictions involving children or sexual offences prevent fostering. Other records are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
- Our foster parents vary in age from their mid-20s through to early 60s. Older candidates may be assessed for suitability but there’s no upper limit.
- Smokers can apply – but only if their home is a smoke-free zone.
- Risk factors are assessed prior to placements, which allows us to put safeguarding measures in place to manage challenging behaviours.
- Foster parents are provided with a generous allowance to cover the costs of food, clothing, personal care, pocket money, activities and travel for the child.
- Ideally, there should be one foster parent at home on a full-time basis.
- Families may consider fostering if children living at home are over the age of 12, although we would be happy to assess your specific situation.
- We try to place children with foster parents who share the same race, language, culture, or dietary requirements. We will support you in meeting cultural needs if you are asked to look after a child from a different culture.
Our proven three-step process ensures every foster family gets the right support at the right time:
Step 1: Honest Exploration
Step 2: Immediate, Tailored Support
Step 3: Growing Together for the Long-Term
Ready to apply? Here’s how it works…
- Register your interest
The first step you need to take is to contact us either via our website contact form, email or telephone.
- Enquiry
When you send us an enquiry one of our fostering advisers will you call to see if we are a good fit for each other and to answer your questions. We will talk you through how everything works and go through some basic criteria for fostering with Mosaic Foster Care.
- Home visit
We meet at your house to discuss fostering in more depth. This is a great opportunity for you to ask questions and raise any issues you think may be relevant. We will answer all your questions – and if our adviser doesn’t have the answer we will find it for you!
- Application
You submit your application form. This is where we will start to make our checks and obtain references. This sounds worse than it is – we’ll explain everything we’re doing.
- Skills to foster
Skills to foster is a mandatory preparatory training session which gives you more information about fostering and our SMILE model. SMILE is our therapeutic parenting approach which you can read all about here.
- Assessment
An assessor will complete your assessment which is compiled as a document and presented to the fostering panel for consideration.
- Panel
Your assessment paperwork is read and discussed at what is called a fostering panel. The panel is made up of people in the industry who will ask questions about your documentation. It sounds daunting but we are on hand to make things as smooth as possible. A recommendation is then made which goes to the agency decision-maker.
- Approval
The agency decision-maker will take the recommendation from the panel and make the final decision on whether you are approved or not. You will then be notified of the outcome.
What support will I receive as a new foster parent with Mosaic Foster Care?
From your very first enquiry, Mosaic Foster Care surrounds you with wraparound support designed to help you thrive. You’ll have access to:
- A dedicated supervising social worker.
- Support workers to offer hands-on, practical help.
- Peer support from other Mosaic foster parents.
- 24/7 phone support so you always have someone to turn to.
- Our in-house therapeutic team via the SMILE framework.
- Regular training, reflective sessions and family events.
Ready to get started?
Think you could be a good fit for our growing foster family? We are always looking for therapeutic foster parents to join our amazing team. If you want to know more about our application process or any other aspect of fostering, speak to a fostering adviser today.
Helping Answer Your Questions
Here are a few of the questions we get the most. If you don't see what's on your mind, reach out to us anytime by phone, chat, or email.
Do I need previous experience to become a foster parent?
No formal qualifications are needed. While experience with children is helpful, what matters most is your ability to provide a stable, nurturing environment and your willingness to learn through our training and support.