Become a foster parent in North Kent

Foster care in North Kent gives children who cannot live with their birth families a safe, stable and nurturing home, either for a short period or on a long-term basis. At Mosaic Foster Care, our focus is long-term therapeutic fostering, which means we support foster parents to provide consistent care for children who may have experienced trauma, instability or multiple moves before joining their foster family.

To become a foster parent in North Kent, the first step is to speak to a fostering agency and explore whether fostering is right for you and your family. At Mosaic Foster Care, we begin with an honest conversation so you understand what fostering really involves before you apply. From there, we guide you through the application, assessment, training and approval process, making sure you feel informed and supported at every stage.

Most foster parents in North Kent need to be over 21, have a spare bedroom, be in good health and have the time, emotional resilience and commitment to care for a child. At Mosaic Foster Care, we also look for people who are ready to provide long-term stability and who are open to learning therapeutic approaches that help children feel safe, understood and supported.

There are different types of fostering agencies supporting children in North Kent, including local authorities and independent fostering agencies. Mosaic Foster Care is an independent fostering agency specialising in long-term, therapeutic foster care. What sets Mosaic Foster Care apart is our carefully planned matching process, small caseloads, 24/7 support and in-house therapeutic expertise, giving foster parents the guidance they need when it matters most.

The fostering approval process usually takes several months, although timescales can vary depending on checks, references, assessment visits and training dates. At Mosaic Foster Care, we make the process as clear and supportive as possible. You will complete training, meet regularly with your assessor and attend fostering panel, which makes a recommendation to the Agency Decision Maker, who makes the final approval decision.

The level of support you receive can make all the difference to your fostering experience. At Mosaic Foster Care, foster parents benefit from dedicated supervising social workers, support workers, peer support, 24/7 guidance, ongoing training and rapid access to therapeutic support through our SMILE therapeutic approach. We support the whole family, including birth children, because fostering affects everyone in the household.

Foster parents receive pre-approval training before they are approved, followed by ongoing learning throughout their fostering journey. At Mosaic Foster Care, training goes beyond the basics. We help foster parents understand trauma, attachment, safer caring, therapeutic parenting and how to respond to behaviour challenges with confidence and care. Our aim is to make sure foster parents feel equipped, not overwhelmed.

Foster care payments vary depending on the agency, the child’s needs and the type of fostering provided. At Mosaic Foster Care, foster parents receive a strong financial package alongside comprehensive practical and therapeutic support. This matters because fostering is a professional, full-time commitment, particularly when providing long-term therapeutic care. We believe foster parents should be properly supported financially so they can focus on caring for the child in their home.

Yes, single people can foster in North Kent. What matters most is not your relationship status but whether you can provide a safe, stable and nurturing home, alongside the time and resilience needed to support a child. Mosaic Foster Care welcomes enquiries from single applicants and provides the same high level of training, assessment and ongoing support to help them decide whether fostering is the right path.

Matching is one of the most important parts of fostering. At Mosaic Foster Care, we never believe in rushing a child into a family simply because a space is available. Our matching process is careful, staged and child-centred, giving foster parents detailed information and, wherever possible, allowing introductions to happen gradually. This helps everyone build trust and gives the child’s placement the strongest possible chance of lasting success.