Working with the largest independent fostering agency, to find the best carers & foster families in the UK.

Name: RSD Fostering
Address: 32 Macadam Road, Cattedown, ENG, PL4 0RU, GB
Telephone: 01752 717666

Fostering Explained

Every day, children are taken into care because their parents are unable to take care of them, for one reason or another.

Whether it’s short-term or long-term, fostering is offering children a stable and caring home where they can feel safe and loved, regardless of their past experiences. For these children, fostering is a second chance.

Most foster parents will tell you that they have the desire and passion to change a child’s life for the better. It is this kind of drive and dedication that can make a real difference to a child in need.

It’s not for everyone, but for those who choose to foster, it can be the most rewarding experience of their life.

The Fostering Application Process

We have simplified the fostering application process in to five stages.

This process can take 6-12 months, depending on the availability of the information required. If you have any questions about this, please get in touch.

Our experienced advisors are available weekdays, from 8am - 5pm and happy to help.

What support is available?

When you apply to foster through RSD, you benefit from

Competitive allowances
2 Weeks respite
24/7 Training and support provided
Quicker process times
Transfer / refer a friend perks
Offices and training nationwide
Child-centered / focused
Variety of placements
Regular updates on your progress
Up-to-date and frequent training

Finances & Benefits

There are many financial benefits available to foster carers. Below, we outline the finances and allowances you could expect to receive as a foster carer. The amount varies based on the child's age, with higher payments for older children.

For existing foster carers looking to transfer, rates are negotiated by our Registered Managers to match or slightly exceed your current allowance. Higher rates are also provided for young people with complex needs or for non-standard placements.

Here are some examples of different payments based on various types of placements.

Levi & George

Levi & George foster two sisters, aged 7 & 8.

Levi and George receive £850 per week.

Rich & Mary

Rich and Mary foster a young person, aged 15.

They receive £410 per week.

Sarah

Sarah fosters a mum and her baby girl, aged three months.

Sarah receives £790 per week.

Lily

Lily fosters one child, aged six.

Lily receives a minimum of 400 per week.

Loving and caring for someone doesn’t always need a reason
but fostering a child does have its perks!

Seeing a foster child in your care blossom into a confident and well-balanced young person can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life.

Aside from making a huge difference, there any many other benefits that come with fostering. Scroll through the tabs to read more...

Fostering Placement Types

No two children are the same – some may need a home for just a few nights, while others need a more permanent home in a family environment. Some children may have specific needs, such as a disability or they might even be young mothers themselves, needing a safe environment in which to raise their baby.

There are many types of fostering placements and it’s about finding what is best suitable for both you and the child.

Short term fostering is in place to provide a safe and warm environment for a child while discussions take place about their future. This will be to either return to their families or be placed with long-term foster carers or adopters.

Babies, children and young people arrive in short-term foster care for various reasons. During their stay with you, which could be anything from two days to two years they will need to be provided with stability, security and a loving home.

If a child is not able to go back to their parents they are placed into long term care. The child will remain with a foster family until they reach adulthood and ready to take care of themselves.

Children in long term fostering often become a part of the family and through close bonds that are built, some children may extend their stay beyond the age of 18.

Long term fostering means you can create a huge impact on their life and development into an adult.

It is important for us to try to keep siblings together so this type of fostering is for someone who is confident to take on an arrival of more than one foster child.

Same sex siblings might be able to share a room, but a brother and sister will need a separate bedroom.

It is hugely beneficial to keep siblings together, providing them with comfort and a way to help them not feel alone during a difficult time.

Parent and child placements usually last up to 12 weeks but could be longer. It is the role of the Foster Carer to help parents feel capable and overcome challenges as a parent to a new baby.

Some parents need help building confidence, knowledge and experience with being a parent. Some may be struggling with disabilities, substance misuse, learning difficulties, domestic abuse or trauma, which can make it hard for them to care for their children.

This type of care can be very rewarding and positive. Many parents may not have received positive parenting themselves but, during their placement, they may feel that someone cares about them and respond to a positive role model.

Remand foster care provides an alternative to being held in custody or secure accommodation. It also gives the young people a chance to demonstrate positive behavioural changes.

Just like all children they will need a safe and secure environment where they can develop and have a positive role model. They will need support and someone who is wanting to help make a difference.

To do remand fostering you will need experience of fostering and training (which we offer for free).

Respite care provides support for foster families or birth families who are in need of time off and support because of of high levels of stress.

This type of fostering helps families stay together and provide that support so that they can rest and re charge their batteries. The need for respite care could be for various reasons, including the parents health or a child with disabilities and additional needs.

Respite care is planned so that a trusted relationship can be built between the foster parent and the child in their care.