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ISP Fostering

We're the UK's most established independent fostering agency, helping to transform the lives of some of the UK's most vulnerable children in foster care.

Terms And Conditions

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Privacy Policy

Find out about ISP Fostering's privacy policy, how data is handled collected and what is used for marketing communications.

What is Foster Care?

Foster care provides vulnerable children with a stable, loving place to live, when they’re unable to stay at home. Learn more today!

Why foster?

There are many benefits of fostering for everyone involved. Choosing to foster may be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make. Find out more!

Who Can Foster?

Looking to become a foster carer and want to know if you meet the criteria for fostering? Discover the requirements to foster in the UK today!

Can Same Sex Couples Foster? - LGBT Fostering

We're proud to support our LGBT foster parents and would love to encourage more same sex couples to foster. Speak to us today about joining the ISP family!

Am I too old to foster?

There's no upper age limit for fostering, so long as you're fit and healthy enough to care for a child. Find out more today.

Can single people foster?

Absolutely! We have many single foster carers - female and male - and some are single parents too. Find out more.

Do you need a spare room?

You will need a spare bedroom that's always available to a child in your care. Learn more about the spare room requirements here.

Can I work and foster?

Whether you can continue to work and foster will depend on your personal circumstances. Learn about fostering and working here.

Types of Foster Care

We provide a variety of different types of fostering placements, so we can continue to meet the needs of children coming into foster care. Learn more today!

Short Term Fostering

Short term fostering provides children with a safe, loving home for a number of nights, days or months, and up to 2 years. Find out more today!

Respite Foster Care

Respite foster care provides crucial support to a foster child on a temporary and short-term basis. Learn about the role and pay of a respite carer today!

Emergency Foster Care

Emergency foster care provides a vulnerable child with a place to stay when it's not safe for them to stay at home. Learn more about the role and pay today!

Parent and Child Fostering

Parent and child fostering provides vulnerable parents with the practical skills they need to care for their child. Learn more today!

Fostering Children with Disabilities

Fostering children with disabilities can be extremely rewarding. Find out about the role, requirements, allowances, training and more today!

Fostering Teenagers - Change a Young Person's Life

Fostering teenagers is often less difficult than caring for younger children as they're more independent. Learn about fostering teens today!

Fostering Siblings

There's a national shortage of foster carer who can foster siblings. If you've got space in your home and heart to care for siblings, then speak to us!

Fostering Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children

Fostering unaccompanied children can be extremely rewarding as you provide an asylum-seeking child with a safe, nurturing home. Learn more today!

Long Term Fostering

Long term fostering gives children a safe, loving home with a dedicated foster parent until they reach 18. Find out more today!

Frequently Asked Questions

Discover answers to some of the most common questions we're asked about fostering.

How to Become a Foster Parent

Our guide on how to become a foster parent shares everything you need to know about the fostering process, application, checks and references and more.

Foster Care Matching Process

We have a dedicated referrals team who expertly match children with suitable foster families. Learn more about the foster care matching process today!

Fostering Assessment

Everything you need to know about the fostering assessment, including what's involved in the Form F, timescales, social work visits and more.

Foster Carer Checks and References

Foster carer checks and references are a vital step in the fostering assessment to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children in care. Learn more today!

Fostering Panel and Approval

Every applicant must attend a fostering panel where an independent group will make a recommendation on your suitability to foster. Learn more!

Why Children Are In Care

There are many reasons for a child to be taken into care, however the most common are neglect and abuse. Learn more about the children in foster care.

Fostering Allowance

ISP foster carers typically receive a £26,000 fostering allowance per year for each child, most of which is tax free. Learn more today!

Fostering Allowance Calculator

Find out what fostering payments you could receive as a foster carer with ISP.

Foster Carer Tax Allowance

Foster carers receive a £10,000 tax allowance from their fostering income, plus a weekly tax relief for each child in placement. Learn more today!

National Insurance for Foster Carers

Foster carers are not required to pay National Insurance if their income is below the threshold. However, they may wish to pay voluntary contributions.

Does Fostering Affect Benefits?

Interested in becoming a foster parent but need to understand how fostering will affect your benefits? Learn about fostering and benefits today!

About ISP Fostering

Since 1987, we've been providing high quality therapeutic foster care to children and young people across the country. Learn more about our story today.

Why choose us?

With over 30 years' experience in therapeutic fostering, we'll ensure you have all the training and support you need to make a life-changing difference.

Therapeutic fostering

We pioneered therapeutic foster care in 1987 and have since helped thousands of children live happy and fulfilled lives. Learn about therapeutic fostering.

Therapy services

Foster Carer Support

Working with children with complex needs can be challenging, so we make sure the specialist support – practical and emotional - is there whenever you need it.

Training & development

With over 30 years’ experience in therapeutic fostering, we deliver first-class foster care training and ongoing professional development for foster carers.

Support for children in care

We look after children and young people who have had especially difficult starts in life. Find out how we support children and young people in care.

Blogs, Latest News, Fostering Stories & Upcoming Events

Check out all the latest news, fostering stories and events regarding ISP Fostering and their foster carers.

Fostering Stories

Discover all the latest fostering stories from ISP Fostering's foster parents, birth children and foster children currently in care.

"It's not just about having a spare room and feeding them"

A Jamaican born foster parent explains how her childhood was one of the reasons why she chose to foster and help children who needed a loving and caring environment.

“We’ve giving children something to look forward to”

Foster parents Abi and her husband Adrian share how they’ve been able to give children a reason to step away from their phones and gaming stations, by setting up a unique sports club.

“It’s not a piece of cake, but each step forward is rewarding”

Lucia and Chris started fostering in 2016 when their daughter handed them a leaflet about foster care. They joined ISP in 2018 and say it’s the best decision they've ever made.

Kent Couple Fostered 50+ Children Over 20 Years

Having fostered 50+ children over the last 20 years, there isn’t much that Wendy & Lawrence don’t know about fostering.

“We’re still learning new things everyday”

Sixteen years ago, Daniel and Susan began their fostering journey. Today, they share their advice to care for a foster child.

“I don’t think of it as a job"

Chris and Debbie have been fostering for over 13 years and have fostered around 10 children, with most of these being long term/permanent placements.

“We've given them stability in their life.”

Ian and Beverley share how a little patience and resilience has changed the lives of 17 children.

"My goal was always to make a difference to just one child’s life"

Jacqueline shares how her dream of changing just one young person's life, has led her to fostering more than 12 teenagers.

“There are so many rewarding parts to my job"

Eileen shares how becoming a foster carer has created a secure family for her and her foster children.

“There are so many rewarding parts to my job"

Eileen and Mick opened their door to their first foster child 10 years ago. Since then, they have cared for five young people and have no intention of giving up.

“We want to help children get a better start in life”

Kim and Geoff felt extremely lucky after having their children, that they wanted to help others. 22 years later they’ve fostered 59 children and are now looking for their 60th.

“To see the difference we've made is overwhelming!”

Tracy and her partner, Craig, started their fostering journey in Summer 2016. Tracy was a childminder and although she felt it had some great rewards, she was longing to do more.

Pam and John's Fostering Story

Read Pam and John's extraordinary story about a couple who think they are ordinary.

“We waited far too long to start fostering”

Ghazala, who has cared for a 14-year-old boy in her first year of fostering, shares her experience.

"I wanted to help and nurture other children"

Paula shares her journey and explains why choosing to become a foster carer was one of the best decisions she's made in a long time.

Couple honoured after 16 years of fostering children

Kent couple, Cleve and Nicola Hedges, have dedicated the last 16 years of their lives to fostering over 20 children - from new-born babies right through to older teenagers.

“A life changing illness actually changed our lives for the better…”

Pete and Sue tell us how a life-changing illness finally meant they were able to chase their dream of fostering children.

Through a Foster Carer's Eyes

Discover how our latest campaign reinforces the message that a child’s past doesn’t have to be their future.

“When you’re a respite carer, just one day can make all the difference"

Ruth and Steve became respite foster parents a year ago after seeing the difference their neighbours were making to children in care. Today, they reveal what life is like as respite foster parents.

"It feels like Jessica was always meant to join our family"

Andy and Ran have welcomed their first foster child into their home after being approved as foster parents and share their journey so far...

“Managing our own expectations of ourselves was the hardest part”

After 15 years of being a foster parent, Sue reflects on her first experience of fostering.

“My three days with the child was a test of courage, and I loved every minute of it.”

Caroline started her journey as a foster parent after her three adopted children reached their teens and found the assessment experience to be positive and not overly intrusive and enjoyed the different training sessions.

“Foster Care has Enabled Him to Fulfil his Dream”

Jenni and Chris share the incredible achievements of Callum, who they've cared for since he was just three years old.

A Young Person’s Experience of Foster Care

Maria was 16 years old when she was placed with her ISP foster carers. Now 18, Maria continues to live with her carers as part of a 'Staying Put' arrangement.

Fostering: The Birth Child’s Story

When a person makes the decision to become a foster carer, it is the whole family who are involved in the fostering role.

"I couldn’t have imagined a life without my extra siblings"

Olivia Davies is an 18-year-old student, who from the age of three has grown up in a household of fostering. She shares her experience of living with foster children over the last 15 years.

News

We have over 30 years’ experience in training and developing therapeutic foster parents and making an extraordinary difference to the lives of children in care.

Foster Parent Knits Bobby Buddies for Children Involved in Incidents

One of our foster parents in Milton Keynes has put her creativity to good use by knitting Bobby Buddies to bring comfort to young children facing domestic situations.

Fostering Assessments with ISP during social distancing

In light of recent Government social distancing instructions, we have amended our recruitment and assessment processes, to ensure we can still recruit new fostering family during this difficult time.

Partnership Improves Lives of Young People with Communication Disabilities

Our Kent centres have joined forces with Communication Access UK with the aim of giving a voice to foster children and adults, enabling better support for those facing communication difficulties.

Our Response to COVID-19

A MESSAGE FROM OUR MANAGING DIRECTOR, TRACY LIVESEY AND CEO, JO AUGUST

Assistance Dog brings comfort to children and young people in Kent

An 18-month-old assistance dog is proving to be a powerful tool for improving the mental health of vulnerable children and young people in Kent.

Macmillan Coffee Morning at Whitstable

We decided to get involved and hosted our very own Macmillan coffee morning here at the Whitstable Centre.

Christmas Celebrations for Whitstable

Our Whitstable foster parents and staff celebrated their achievements with a special Christmas Lunch at the Chilston Park Hotel in the North Downs of Kent.

ISP Donates Over 600 Items to Food Banks This Christmas

Our staff and foster parents, who provide suitable families for looked after children, filled boxes with tins and packets to give to various food banks across the country, collecting more than 600 items for The Trussell Trust.

Team MK Take On 12-Hour Cyclathon for Children In Need

Our Milton Keynes team took on the impressive challenge of a 12-hour cyclathon on Friday 15th November, raising over £560 for Children in Need.

Foster Carer Discussion Group at Leeds Castle

Staff and carers from our Whitstable fostering team came together at Leeds Castle in Kent to celebrate it's 900th birthday and experience the ‘Festival of Flowers’.

Calling Out to Empty Nesters Whose Children Have Left for University

We're urging more families to become foster parents once their children leave the family home for university.

RSPCA Animal Action Day

Six young people from our Milton Keynes and Chesham fostering centres attended the Animal Action Day at RSPCA Blackberry Farm.

Inspirational Foster Teen up for National Award

A teenage girl who has spent the last 11 years in the Foster Care system has been nominated for a national award following the death of her 23 year old Uncle who had Cystic Fibrosis.

ISP Enfield & South London is Ofsted ‘Outstanding’

Our Enfield and South London fostering team has been rated as ‘Outstanding’ following an official inspection from Ofsted, the independent watchdog.

Christmas Card Competition Winner

We reveal this year's annual Christmas card competition winner - with so many incredible designs it was not easy to choose an overall winner!

Lucy's Showstopping Performance

Lucy gave a show-stopping performance and came in an incredible 4th place during a regional qualifier.

Jean Retires After Almost 20 Years Fostering With ISP

Our Chesham team held a tea party to celebrate the retirement of our wonderful Foster Carer, Jean.

LGBT Fostering and Adoption Week

As part of the national LGBT Fostering and Adoption Week, ISP are asking for more people to come forward and offer a loving home to a vulnerable child or young person.

'See Through Their Eyes' Campaign

Our latest campaign reinforces the message that a child’s past doesn’t have to be their future.

ISP at International Foster Care Organisation Conference!

Our very own Andrew Fox will be running a workshop at the IFCO Conference Saturday 3rd September 2016. He will be presenting with Andrea Warman, author of ‘Caring with Vitality‘, a book about how yoga can help foster carers and their families.

ISP Sponsor Award that Recognises Fostering Friendly Employers

ISP supports the Fostering Friendly: Employer of the Year Award at the 2015 Fostering Excellence Awards. This prestigious event has recognised the commitment, dedication, and skill of the whole fostering community, and it goes a long way to highlighting the positive work of foster carers right across the UK

Staying Put – what was it like for foster children before you could stay put?

After years of campaigning, the implementation of the ‘Staying Put’ legislation means young people are no longer forced to leave their homes at the age of 18.

How successful has Staying Put been since it came into effect?

A year ago the Staying Put legislation came into force and changed things for thousands of young people in foster care throughout the UK. Young people are no longer required to leave their foster homes on their 18th birthday although challenges still remain.

Virtual

Virtual Fostering Information Evening