Support and benefits
You will never be alone as a foster carer, it is a team effort. When you join Black Country Fostering, you don’t just get a new role - you get a whole team of support behind you.
Our Financial Support package includes:
- Allowances for each child, covering their everyday needs
- Professional fees recognising your time, skills, and commitment
- Set up grants for beds, furniture, car seats, and essential equipment
- Additional allowances for birthdays, religious festivals, holidays, and clothing
- Clear, transparent payment information – contact us to find out more about fees
All Black Country local authorities provide foster carers with competitive fostering allowances and financial support packages, that can rise to over £50,000 per year. As well as helping with the costs of caring for a child, Black Country Fostering’s local authorities may also offer additional benefits, training opportunities and support services designed to help foster carers thrive in their role. If you would like to find out more information about fees across the region, please contact our team who are able to talk through the financial details of becoming a foster carer.
Practical & Emotional Support:
- A dedicated supervising social worker - your main point of contact for placement support
- Mockingbird Family Model – Walsall currently offers the Mockingbird model, an innovative support network that brings foster families together in a "constellation", led by an experienced hub home carer. This creates an extended fostering family, providing peer support, friendship, respite care and shared experiences to help carers and children thrive. As Black Country Fostering grows, we hope to extend the Mockingbird model across all partner local authorities so even more foster families can benefit from this additional layer of support.
- Fostering Journey Guide - your consistent first port of call, keeping you connected and encouraged
- 24‑hour, 365‑day support - outside office hours, a duty team is always available
- Peer support - regular carer groups, mentoring, and events for fellow foster carers to meet, connect and talk about their experiences
- Confidential advice lines - independent support whenever you need it
- Handbooks, guides, and resources - all the information you need at your fingertips
Training and Development
Previous experience of caring for or working with children can be useful, but it’s not essential - with our training and development we will prepare you for life as a foster carer.
Before You Are Approved:
- Skills to Foster - our 3‑day preparation course. It gives you a realistic look at fostering, helps you build confidence, and connects you with other applicants. It’s informative, practical, and supportive.
Once Approved:
- Induction to Fostering - building your understanding of the role
- Safeguarding & Child Protection - keeping children safe
- Safer Caring - protecting your family and the children placed with you
- First Aid - essential skills for every carer
- Equality & Diversity - respecting and celebrating every child’s identity
There are many other courses you can choose to take – or even request we run, if there’s an issue you feel the need to learn more about. As you progress as a foster carer you will have opportunities to take additional specialist training to develop your skills and as a foster carer.
Start your fostering journey today
Leave your details with us if you'd like to find out more about fostering and one of our team will be in touch.
Contact our team to start your fostering journey today