How many children are currently in foster care in the UK?

There are over 65,000 children in foster care across England in 2026, with increasing demand for safe and stable homes.

How many foster carers are there in the UK?

There are around 43,000 fostering households, a number that has declined, contributing to placement pressures across the country.

Can I transfer from another foster agency to F5 Foster Care?

Yes. Many experienced carers are choosing to transfer to F5 Foster Care for a more responsive, flexible, and personalised service. We handle transfers smoothly and quickly.

What type of fostering is most in demand in 2026?

Emergency placements, therapeutic fostering, sibling group care, and homes for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) are especially needed.

What makes F5 Foster Care different?

We move faster, work closer with carers, and offer bespoke support. We prioritise outcomes, not just occupancy, and are proud to welcome carers who want more purpose-driven support.

How quickly can I become a foster carer?

On average it takes 4–6 months, but with F5 Foster Care’s responsive onboarding, some carers are approved in as little as 12 weeks.

Do I need qualifications to foster?

No formal qualifications are required. We provide full training and support to equip you with the tools and confidence you need.

Where do you recruit foster carers?

We focus on the West Midlands, including Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry, Walsall, Sandwell, Dudley, and Solihull.

Who can I speak to for more information?

Speak directly to Zulekha Ali on 07882 906519 to begin your journey or explore a transfer.

As a Foster Carer you are paid generous weekly fees

We know that individuals and families who choose to foster are driven by a strong desire to support and care for vulnerable children, rather than seeking financial gain. Nonetheless, we acknowledge the immense effort, unwavering commitment, and exceptional dedication exhibited by our foster carers. In today’s society, fostering has evolved into both a personal and professional role, and we firmly believe that our foster carers deserve recognition and remuneration for the tireless work they do day in and day out. You will find more information on the fees and allowance page.

The difference between fostering and adoption

Fostering involves providing a temporary home for a child who is unable to live with their birth family for various reasons. The primary goal of fostering is to provide a safe, stable, and nurturing environment for the child while their birth family works towards resolving the issues that led to their separation. Foster carers are entrusted with the care of the child, but the legal responsibility and parental rights remain with the local authority or the child’s birth parents. Fostering can be short-term or long-term, and the child may eventually return to their birth family, move to another long-term placement, or transition into independent living. Adoption, on the other hand, involves permanently bringing a child into a new family and legally becoming their parent. It is a legal process that severs the child’s legal ties with their birth family and establishes a new legal relationship with their adoptive parents. Adoptive parents assume full parental rights and responsibilities, providing a permanent and lifelong home for the child. Adoption is typically pursued when a child cannot return to their birth family or when the birth parents voluntarily consent to the adoption. It creates a permanent family bond, and the adopted child is treated as a full member of the adoptive family. In summary, fostering is a temporary arrangement aimed at providing care and support for a child until they can be reunited with their birth family or find a long-term placement, while adoption involves the legal process of permanently making a child a part of a new family, with all the rights and responsibilities that come with it. At F5 Foster Care we only recruit Foster Carers and would recommend anyone considering adoption to visit www.first4adoption.org.uk to find an adoption agency in your area.

Its important that we can recruit a diverse range of Foster Carers

Having a diverse range of foster carers is important as it allows for the specific needs of children to be met, reflects the diversity of society, provides a variety of positive role models, helps address biases and discrimination, and ensures that children receive culturally sensitive care. By embracing diversity, foster care can offer children a sense of identity, acceptance, and understanding while promoting inclusivity and empathy within the foster care community.

Men can be foster carers too!

Male foster carers are needed to provide a diverse and balanced caregiving environment for children in foster care. They bring unique perspectives, qualities, and role models that are valuable for children, particularly those who may have experienced trauma or lack positive male influences in their lives. Male foster carers offer stability, guidance, and a different nurturing style, contributing to the holistic development and well-being of children. Their presence helps challenge stereotypes and promotes gender equality, teaching children to respect and appreciate the diverse qualities and strengths that individuals of all genders can bring to parenting and caregiving roles.

It is possible to work and Foster although a lot of flexibility is needed

Balancing foster care responsibilities with work can be challenging due to the demands and complexities involved in both roles. Fostering requires significant time and attention to meet the needs of children in care, including attending appointments, coordinating with social workers, providing emotional support, and addressing any challenging behaviors or trauma-related issues. Juggling these responsibilities alongside a job can lead to time constraints, scheduling conflicts, and emotional strain. Additionally, foster carers may need flexibility in their work arrangements to accommodate unexpected emergencies or meetings related to the child’s care. It is crucial to have understanding employers and support systems in place to navigate the difficulties of combining foster care with work commitments effectively.

Applicants living with a disability are not prohibited from applying to foster. The Assessment process including training and approval should take around 6 months

When you apply to foster, you will be assigned a social worker who will support you throughout the process and carry out a thorough assessment. It is a two staged process with stage 1 performing checks such as DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) formerly known as CRB check while the second stage will require a report on your family, your home life and experiences etc. In certain situations these stages can be completed simultaneously. The assessing social worker will complete a detailed report about you, with your input, which will then be presented to the fostering panel. Applicants are usually invited to attend the fostering panel when their application is heard so that they can answer any questions panel may have. The fostering panel will then make a recommendation to the fostering service as to the applicant’s suitability to foster, and agency decision maker for the fostering service will decide whether to approve you or not. We aim to complete this process within 4 -6 months.

Being a Foster Carer means being a lifelong learner

Ongoing training is crucial for foster carers as it ensures they have the necessary knowledge, skills, and tools to provide the best possible care for children in their homes. Training equips foster carers with strategies to address various challenges, such as understanding trauma, managing behaviors, supporting educational needs, and promoting positive relationships. It also keeps them up to date with the latest research, best practices, and legal requirements in the field of foster care. At F5 Foster Care, we are fully committed to your training because we know it enhances the quality of care, promotes professional development, and empowers you as foster carers to meet the diverse needs of the children entrusted to you. By investing in continuous learning, we ensure that our foster carers are well-prepared, confident, and capable of making a lasting positive impact on the lives of the children they support.

We work with you to ensure that you are matched with the most suitable children for your home

You are able to specify the age and in some rare circumstances (due to family demographics or religious beliefs) the gender of children that you Foster. You should bear in mind that the narrower the age range you specify will have an impact on the number of placements you may be offered simply due to the availability of children that meet with your criteria. There is an overwhelming need for foster carers to support children and young people between the ages of 5 and 16, sibling groups, certain ethnic groups and parent / child placements, as these groups tend to be in the greatest need.

2026 and thinking About Transferring Fostering Agency?

2026 and thinking About Transferring Fostering Agency?

New Year and New Agency – A Simple, Supportive Guide from F5 Foster Care

At F5 Foster Care, we understand that fostering is deeply personal. Foster carers sometimes consider moving to a different fostering agency for many reasons – seeking better support, clearer communication, stronger values alignment, or simply feeling that it’s time for a change.

If you’re thinking about transferring, it’s important to know that this is your right, and that the process exists to protect both you and the child in your care.

Our role at F5 Foster Care is to make that journey clear, calm and child-centred.

Your Right to Transfer – Transfer to F5

Approved foster carers are allowed to move from one fostering service to another. This is recognised across the UK and is guided by clear, nationally agreed principles.

In simple terms, this means:

You are free to choose the fostering agency that feels right for you
You should never feel pressured or persuaded to move for financial reasons
Any decision must put the child’s welfare first
Transfers should be handled professionally, transparently and respectfully
You can only be approved by one fostering agency at a time, so timings are carefully managed

At F5 Foster Care, we fully respect these principles and apply them properly, with integrity and care.

What Actually Happens When You Transfer?

We know the process can sound daunting. In reality, it is structured, supported and designed to avoid disruption – especially for children.

Here’s what you can expect if you choose to explore a transfer to F5 Foster Care.

Step 1: A friendly, confidential conversation

Everything starts with a simple conversation. You speak with our team – often with Zulekha Ali, our main contact for foster carers – to talk through your experience, your current situation and what you’re looking for. There is no obligation and no pressure to proceed.

Step 2: Letting your current agency know

If you decide you’d like to move forward, you will formally inform your current fostering agency. This keeps the process open, professional and respectful for everyone involved.

Step 3: Updating your approval

Because you are already an approved foster carer, much of your experience, training and assessment can be recognised. Rather than starting from scratch, the process usually focuses on updating information and ensuring everything is current.

Information is shared properly and securely, so there is no unnecessary duplication.

Step 4: If a child is living with you

If a child is currently placed with you, professionals come together to plan carefully. The focus is always on:

stability for the child
continuity of care
ensuring the right support is in place

Children are never moved simply because a carer is transferring agency. Their needs, wishes and wellbeing remain central at all times.

Step 5: A smooth handover

Your approval with F5 Foster Care begins on the same day your previous approval ends. This avoids gaps, uncertainty or risk to your fostering status.

A Profit-With-Purpose, Social Impact Agency

F5 Foster Care is a profit with purpose fostering agency. That means we measure success by impact, not volume.

Any surplus is reinvested into:

foster carer support
training and development
high-quality supervision
services that improve outcomes for children

We believe carers do their best work when they feel trusted, supported and valued.

Financial Support You Can Rely On

We are transparent and fair about payments.

Foster carers with F5 Foster Care can receive:

Up to £2,166 per child, per month
Payments are tax-free (subject to individual circumstances)
Additional allowances for birthdays, holidays and specific needs

We know we will be more competitive than your present foster care agency or council and where we need to we always better existing payments to ensure carers are not financially disadvantaged when transferring.

Our Team and Ongoing Support

When you join F5 Foster Care, you’re not just joining an organisation – you’re joining a team.

You’ll have:

a dedicated supervising social worker
24/7 local on-call support
access to high-quality training
a fostering community that understands the journey

Support is consistent, personal and local.

So in simple words: Your Transfer Journey is as below:

Initial Conversation with a face to face visit
Friendly, confidential chat with F5 Foster Care
Decision to Proceed
You choose whether to move forward
Inform Current Agency
Transparent and professional notification
Assessment Update
Experience recognised, information updated
Child-Centred Planning
Stability and wellbeing prioritised
Approval & Handover
Seamless transfer with no gap
Welcome to F5 Foster Care
Ongoing support, community and impact

Let’s Start with a Conversation

Call F5 Foster Care on 0121 271 0555
Ask for Zulekha Ali

No pressure. No obligation.
Just a genuine conversation about whether F5 Foster Care is the right next step for you – and for the child who needs you.