Regardless of your sexual orientation or marital status, as long as you have a safe home and have not committed any crimes against children, you are eligible to apply to foster, or transfer to our agency if you are already a foster parent. 

Our foster parents vary in age from their mid-20s through to early 60s so there are no age restrictions, though older candidates may need to be assessed for suitability. 

You may also apply to foster a child if you are a smoker, but you should ensure the home is a smoke free zone.

Although no formal qualifications are needed, some experience in caring for children will prove extremely useful in successfully fostering a child.

We offer ‘Skills to Foster’ courses and post-approval training to ensure that both the child and foster parent are safe and happy in the placement.

Risk factors are assessed prior to placements, which allows us to put safeguarding measures in place to manage challenging behaviours.

Continued training and support from our therapy team is available to provide foster parents with the skills to face emotional or stressful situations with confidence, and better prepare for any eventual goodbyes.

Foster parents are provided with an allowance to cover the costs of food, clothing, personal care, pocket money, activities, and travel for the child in their care. The payments should not affect any pre-agreed benefits received or tax paid by the foster parent. 

Mosaic Foster Care provides guidance on financial spending to ensure each child has a healthy and balanced upbringing. 

Foster parents with more experience and training, receive an increased allowance to reflect the further advanced skillset.

If all household family members are involved in the decision-making process and are supportive of the decision to foster a child, you will reduce the potential impact. 

Ensure quality time is spent with existing and new family members, individually and altogether, to build relationships and bond. 

Foster placements are thoroughly planned out so all parties are happy with the decision, however supervising social workers are on hand to support with any issues that may arise for your new or existing family.

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 if you get in touch.

The history and behavioural records of the child placed in your care will be shared with you. 

The child’s family details will not be shared; however, those family members may have pre-agreed scheduled meetings with the foster child, so you are likely to meet with them at that time.

We endeavour to place children with foster parents who share the same race, language, culture, or dietary requirements, however we will support you in meeting cultural needs, if you are asked to look after a child from a different culture.

You may have many questions about fostering and have questions about the different people you may meet on your fostering journey:

If your question wasn’t answered here, please contact our friendly team who will be more than happy to help.

You may have many questions about fostering and have questions about the the various different meetings which are routinely held at different parts of the fostering application process:

If your question wasn’t answered here, please contact our friendly team who will be more than happy to help.

You may have many questions about fostering and have questions about the different terms and jargon used.  Here are some of the most frequently asked…

If your question wasn’t answered here, please contact our friendly team who will be more than happy to help.

You may have many questions about fostering and have questions about the the various different ways you can foster children, and these normally will be through an independent fostering agency (IFA) such as Mosaic Foster Care, or via your local authority,  Here we outline some of the key differences in these approaches.

If your question wasn’t answered here, please contact our friendly team who will be more than happy to help.

Although no formal qualifications are needed, some experience in caring for children will prove extremely useful in successfully fostering a child.

We offer ‘Skills to Foster’ courses and post-approval training to ensure that both the child and foster parent are safe and happy in the placement.

Risk factors are assessed prior to placements, which allows us to put safeguarding measures in place to manage challenging behaviours.

Continued training and support from our therapy team is available to provide foster parents with the skills to face emotional or stressful situations with confidence, and better prepare for any eventual goodbyes.

• FROM ENQUIRY TO 1ST YEAR REVIEW
  ENQUIRY
  You have a chat with one of our fostering advisors to see if you meet our basic criteria and if
  fostering is something you would like to find out more about
• HOME VISIT
  We meet at your home to discuss fostering in more depth and answer any questions you may
  have.
• APPLICATION
  You submit your application form, and we start to make our checks and obtain references
• SKILLS TO FOSTER
  You will be invited to attend our preparatory training sessions to learn more about fostering and
  our SMILE therapeutic parenting approach. These are currently via video link
• ASSESSEMENT
  An assessor will complete your assessment which is compiled as a document and presented to
  panel for consideration
  PANEL
  Your assessment paperwork is read and discussed, and a recommendation is made to the agency
  decision maker. You are made aware of this recommendation
• APPROVAL*
  The agency decision maker makes their decision based on the panel’s recommendation and if you
  are approved you will be notified
• INDUCTION/TRAINING PROGRAMME
  Once you have been approved you will start our comprehensive induction and training
  programme
• REFERRALS/MATCHING
  Information is shared with you about young people you may wish to consider, meetings are held
  to progress this interest, resulting in a decision to arrange an introduction
• INTRODUCTION/PLACEMENT
  Following a positive introduction, the placement is agreed
• 1ST ANNUAL REVIEW
  You will receive your one year voucher and certificate as part of our Appreciation Award scheme

At Mosaic Foster Care, each young person is provided with their own dedicated support worker. Sessions with the support worker are held regularly, tailored specifically to the individual needs of the young person, and continually reviewed and adapted as necessary. Our support approach is grounded in our SMILE model, an integrated therapeutic framework designed specifically to deliver therapeutic parenting. Learn more about our SMILE model.

The primary role of a support worker is to build a trusting and positive relationship with each young person, always prioritising their needs and feelings. By listening actively, understanding without judgement, and engaging in healthy, enjoyable activities, support workers nurture pro-social behaviour and help young people develop essential life skills and resilience.

Support workers focus on enhancing each young person's individual skills, attributes, and interests through child-centred, person-focused interactions. Sharing their own life experiences allows support workers and young people to connect more deeply, fostering mutual understanding and trust. Showing genuine interest in a young person's activities and thoughts encourages open communication, helping young people feel confident and secure when seeking guidance or advice.

Comprehensive, evidence-based reports are prepared regularly to document progress. Support workers also participate in collaborative meetings with other professionals, providing valuable insights and feedback to support each young person's continued growth and development.

To hear more about the impact of our support workers, read a firsthand perspective here.

What Happens at a Support Session?

Support sessions can include a variety of activities such as:

• Group work and team activities

• Supervising family contact

• Assisting with schoolwork and home schooling

• Providing transportation as needed

• Building independence and resilience

• Practising social skills in real-world settings

• Offering emotional support and guidance

• Having fun and sharing smiles 🙂🙂

Each session is designed to empower young people, helping them thrive both emotionally and socially.

Understanding the Referrals and Matching Process

At Mosaic Foster Care, we are dedicated to ensuring that each child is placed in a nurturing environment tailored to their unique needs. Our comprehensive referrals and matching process involves the following steps:​

1. Receiving Referrals:

   • Local Authorities (LAs) identify children requiring foster placements and share their profiles on databases accessible to Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs).​

2. Identifying Potential Matches:

   • Our dedicated referrals officer reviews these databases to find children whose needs align with the capabilities and availability of our foster families.​

3. Engaging with Local Authorities:

   • Upon identifying a potential match, the referrals officer contacts the LA, providing detailed information about Mosaic Foster Care and the prospective foster parents.​

4. Consulting with Foster Parents:

   • If the LA expresses interest, the referrals officer shares the child's information with the relevant foster parents and their Supervising Social Worker (SSW).​
   • The foster parents and SSW discuss the child's profile to assess compatibility and the ability to meet the child's needs.​

5. Clarifying Details:

   • If the foster parents feel they can support the child, they compile a list of questions for the LA and share their Fostering Assessment (Form F) to provide further context.​

6. Pre-Placement Meeting:

   • Once the LA responds, and if all parties are inclined to proceed, a pre-placement meeting is arranged. This meeting typically includes the foster parents, SSW, and the child's social worker, facilitating a comprehensive discussion about the placement.​

7. Internal Matching Meeting:

   • Following the pre-placement meeting, an internal matching meeting is held within Mosaic Foster Care to evaluate the potential placement thoroughly.​

8. Initiating Introductions:

   • If the matching meeting yields a positive outcome, introductions between the foster parents and the child commence, marking the beginning of the placement journey.​

This process ensures that each placement is thoughtfully considered, prioritizing the well-being and development of the child while supporting foster parents in their vital role.​

For more insights into our approach, you can visit our What We Do page.​

If you have further questions or need additional information, please feel free to ask!

After being approved as a foster carer, you will participate in a comprehensive induction training programme designed to equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills for your fostering journey. This training typically includes:​

• Preparation: Understanding essential requirements, planning for various scenarios, and addressing any concerns or anxieties.​

• Communication: Guidelines on interacting with the agency, maintaining accurate records, and understanding on-call procedures.​

• Expectations: Overview of mandatory training requirements, personal development plans, and agency expectations.​

• Team Collaboration: Emphasizing the importance of working collaboratively with other professionals involved in the child's care.​

• Supervision: Regular sessions with your Supervising Social Worker to discuss progress and address any challenges.​

• Meetings: Understanding the various meetings you'll attend, their purposes, and your role in them.​

• Safeguarding: Training on protecting children from harm and ensuring their well-being.​

• Behaviour Management: Strategies and techniques for managing and understanding children's behaviours.​Tennessee State Government - TN.gov+2Fostering Nottinghamshire+2Fostering Nottinghamshire+2

• Therapeutic Models: An introduction to therapeutic approaches, such as Mosaic's SMILE model, to support children effectively.​

• Finance: Information on financial support, allowances, and managing expenses.​

• Agency Structure: Understanding the organizational structure and key contacts within the agency.​

• Glossary of Terms: A comprehensive list of terms and acronyms commonly used in foster care.​

• IT Systems: Training on the digital tools and platforms used for communication and record-keeping.​

This induction training is a crucial step in your fostering journey, ensuring you're well-prepared to provide a nurturing and supportive environment for the children in your care.​

Note: Specific training components may vary depending on the fostering agency and local regulations.​

If you have further questions or need additional information, please feel free to ask!