Fostering in the South East
When you join Foster Care Associates South East you will be joining an experienced, creative, and inspirational fostering provider who has been Ofsted rated ‘Good’.
Welcome to Foster Care Associates South East
Interested in fostering or curious on how a foster care agency works? Foster Care Associates has helped thousands of children find homes with loving families over the years and has since grown to become one of the UK’s leading and largest fostering agencies. The South region as was then called was formed in 1997.
With over 25 years of experience, Foster Care Associates has helped build fostering families all over the UK including the South East of England. Each year, the number of referrals of children and young people we get from local authorities increases.
In the South East of England, including London and Kent we receive between 500 – 600 referrals per months for local authorities looking for foster homes for children and young people. For anyone who is considering becoming a foster parent (commonly known as a foster carer) or would like to know more information regarding the process to becoming a foster parent should get in touch and speak to one of our friendly advisers on how you can get started.
The South East Region covers a geographical area stretching from Southampton to Kent and includes London Boroughs and the Isle of Wight.
Speak to us
South East - Eastleigh
By Phone
One of our team is available to talk to you over the phone to answer any of your fostering queries.
By Email
One of our team is available to talk to you over the phone to answer any of your fostering queries.
Visit an office
Foster Care Associates, Office 17, Fleming Court Business Centre, Eastleigh, SO50 9YN
South East - Isle of Wight
By Phone
One of our team is available to talk to you over the phone to answer any of your fostering queries.
By Email
One of our team is available to talk to you over the phone to answer any of your fostering queries.
Visit an office
Foster Care Associates, Unit 1L Innovation Centre,St Cross Business Park, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 5WB
Benefits of working with FCA
24/7 advice service
Excellent ongoing training
Access to your local fostering team
Competitive payments
Local support groups
Local social activities and events
How do Foster Care Associates offer support in the South East?
It’s the can-do attitude that makes fostering with Foster Care Associates South East such a rewarding experience. Our experienced and expert team of fostering professionals are committed in creating the best possible place to be a foster parent or child or young person who is in care. From monthly foster parent support groups to activities and events, you’ll be instantly welcomed into our fostering family. You will be well looked after too and we will make sure you never feel alone.
- 24/7 local support: including monthly support groups local support groups, therapeutic groups.
- Team Parenting: a regional and national network of childcare experts who may work with each child or young person to look after every single area of their well-being.
- Training and Development.
- Independent advice with a FREE membership to FosterTalk.
- A comprehensive events and activities calendar.
- Online support: Access to a portal to read about everything that is happening at Foster Care Associates, plus access to discounts to a range of sites.
- Foster Carer Appreciation Day.
Here to support you
We provide the foundations for our foster families to create positive and lasting differences, it’s at the heart of everything we do here at Foster Care Associates South East. We have a strong, professional and established team across South East that supports our foster parents, children and young people in all aspects of their family life. They’re on hand to support you 24/7 all year round.
We hold a range of regular support groups across the whole region giving foster parents the opportunity to strengthen relationships with other foster parents in the area. Foster parents can come along for an informal chat to share knowledge, best practice, get support with our online training, or attend ADAPT Groups to support families with a therapeutic approach, or pop along for coffee and cake and a catch up. It’s a great opportunity for foster parents and staff to support each other.
In order to support our foster parents and children in the best possible way we have a group of highly skilled team who are brimming with experience and knowledge.
- Dedicated Supervising Social Worker who will provide regular phone support and visits and build a positive professional relationship with you and your family.
- Guidance and support to access training and continuous professional development through classroom based training and via E-Learning.
- Provide therapeutic reflect groups and access to a therapist ‘drop in’ clinic.
- Buddy system to connect foster parents with other foster parents who have experience in a particular area.
Having fun with FCA South East
Within the South East region we host a number of local and regional activities and events across the South East of England, these include foster parent breakfasts, monthly foster parent support groups. These are organised on a regular basis to not only provide to provide additional support and opportunities for both new and existing foster parents and families to meet up and have a chat.
On top of the many South East support events, we also provide lots types of high-quality training and support. For example, both Pre-Approval Training and Post-Approval Training.
During school holidays, fostering families are invited to attend local activities so all family members are able to engage in a fun activity and meet existing fostering families and young people.
This can include trips to London and theme park days. Every year an awards ceremony is held for all our children and young people, to recognise and celebrate their achievements.
This is in addition to a region-wide Christmas party and of course the ‘Big Sing Off’ choir competition. This is where we get to perform with our best singing voices in front of an audience of over 600 other foster parents, staff, children and young people.
One of the UK’s largest leading communities of children’s service providers
We know what it takes to reach the pinnacle of success in regards to delivering the best outcomes for children and young people across our community. 100% of all FCA, and the wider Polaris services are now Good or Outstanding.
We have achieved this by listening to our staff, foster families and children. If you want to join an organisation that takes pride in striving for excellence then contact our team today.
FCA South East are always on the other end of the phone day and night, 24 hours support 7 days a week 365 days a year.
Find your next fostering event...
If you’re already a foster parent find out how to transfer to us
Welcome from Caroline Ellis, Registered Manager
Welcome to FCA South East, I joined FCA in October 2017 and was approved by Ofsted as the Registered Manager for the region in April 2018.
We are a caring, supportive and inclusive region and we all work hard to ensure this ethos is at the heart of everything we do for our foster parents, children and young people.
We actively work in partnership with local authorities to support matching fostering households to the needs of children and young people. We support 37 of 52 (69%) local authorities across the South East. We are always looking for foster parents to join our team.
Meet the South East team
Caroline Ellis
Registered Manager
Rachel Ealing
Fostering Services Manager
Katie Ballard
Office Manager
Tracey Harris
Referrals Manager
Ray Kalaker
Fostering Service Manager
Sasha Cole
Referrals Officer
Rosie Harrison
Referrals Officer
Debbie Osman
Administrator
Hollie Parkinson
Administrator
Georgia Russell
Senior Supervising Social Worker
Frankie Lucas
Senior Supervising Social Worker
