Fostering agencies near you – find your local Mosaic Foster Care team

Mosaic Foster Care recruits and supports foster parents across Essex, Suffolk, Hertfordshire, North Kent, Northamptonshire, Milton Keynes, Gloucestershire, Cheltenham, Worcestershire, Worcester and Kidderminster. We operate from two offices – our South East office in Southend-on-Sea and our Midlands office in Northampton – and our teams support foster families across all of these areas.

The best way is to get in touch directly. If you’re based in or near any of the areas listed above, we’re likely able to support you. Call us on 0800 233 5570, email enquiry@mosaicfostercare.com or use the live chat on our website and we’ll let you know straight away.

Therapeutic fostering is a specialist approach to foster care designed to support children who have experienced trauma, neglect or abuse. At Mosaic, our therapeutic model – called SMILE – means every foster parent is trained to understand and respond to the emotional and psychological needs of the children in their care. We also have an in-house therapeutic team available to support both foster parents and children, often within hours of a need arising.

Several things set us apart. We specialise exclusively in long-term fostering – we don’t do emergency or short-term placements. We have an in-house therapeutic team rather than referring families to external services. We’ve been rated Outstanding by Ofsted in three consecutive inspections. We’re also an APPCIOS-accredited therapeutic training centre – something we believe no other fostering agency in the UK has achieved. And 94% of children placed with us stay in one home all year, compared to a national average of 69%.

The process typically takes around four to six months from your first enquiry to approval. This includes an initial conversation, a home visit, background checks, training and a formal assessment. A fostering panel reviews your assessment and makes a recommendation, with the final approval decision made by our Agency Decision Maker. We support you through every stage so you know what to expect.

Yes. If you’re already an approved foster parent with another agency and are looking to transfer to Mosaic, we can facilitate a smooth transition. Many experienced foster parents transfer to us because they want stronger therapeutic support, more consistent communication or a greater focus on long-term placements. Get in touch to find out more about what the process involves.

Foster parents with Mosaic receive a minimum of £600 per week, rising to £700 or more per week after completing their induction training. Payments include both the fostering allowance and professional fee with no hidden deductions. We also offer a £250 per week retainer for up to four weeks if a placement ends, three weeks of paid supportive care per year, and full pay for any additional children in your care. For a full breakdown, download our free Fostering Finances guide.

You’ll have a dedicated supervising social worker who supports around ten families - giving them the time to visit, respond and really know your household. You’ll also have access to our in-house therapeutic team, a youth support worker for your foster child, reflective practice groups led by clinicians, 24/7 out-of-hours support, and ongoing training that is fully funded. Support extends to your whole family, including birth children.

No. Many of our foster parents come to fostering for the first time. What matters most is your capacity to build relationships, offer stability and commit to learning and growing in the role. We provide all the training you need – before and after approval – so you feel equipped rather than overwhelmed.

The first step is simply getting in touch. You can call us on 0800 233 5570, email hello@mosaicfostercare.com or start a live chat on our website. We’ll have an honest, no-pressure conversation about fostering, answer your questions and help you work out whether it’s the right path for you and your family. There’s no obligation and no commitment required at that stage – just an open conversation.