Support for Foster Carers

You're Never on Your Own

Fostering is incredibly rewarding — but it can also be challenging. That’s why we prioritise meaningful, personal support that fits you. As a foster carer with Wholistic Fostering, you’re part of a team built on trust, relationships, and shared purpose.

You’ll have:

• Your own dedicated Supervising Social Worker who knows your household and visits regularly
• Access to 24/7 advice and guidance, whenever you need it
• Peer-to-peer support, through groups, buddy systems, and mentoring
• Opportunities to connect at events, training days, and support groups

We’re always just a phone call away — and you’ll always be listened to, understood, and supported.

Professional Guidance from Start to Finish

Your support begins even before you’re approved. During the assessment phase, you’ll be matched with an experienced assessing social worker who will guide you through the process and get to know you and your household.

Once approved, you’ll be allocated your Supervising Social Worker (SSW) — your main point of contact for all things fostering. They’ll check in regularly and are trained to support you with:

• Practical strategies for supporting children with trauma, emotional needs or behavioural challenges
• Mental health and wellbeing support for both carers and children
• Safer caring, safeguarding and managing risk
• Navigating complex situations, such as contact with birth families or school transitions

Training That Empowers You

We want you to feel confident, knowledgeable, and fully prepared — which is why we offer a comprehensive training pathway starting with our Tools to Foster pre-approval training.

Once approved, you’ll have access to:

• Flexible in-person and online learning to suit your lifestyle
• Specialist courses in topics like therapeutic care, SEND, child development and more
• Ongoing development so you can build your skills and grow in your role as a carer

Whether you’re new to fostering or have years of experience, our training is designed to meet you where you’re at — and help you grow.

Financial Support That’s Fair and Clear

We offer a competitive fostering allowance that reflects the commitment and responsibility that comes with caring for a child or young person. It’s there to help cover the cost of care and ensure you’re not out of pocket.

Your allowance will depend on a few factors, including the needs of the child and the type of placement — but we’ll always be open and clear about what to expect.

You can read more about our fostering allowances here.

A Community You Can Rely On

We’ve built a strong, close-knit network of foster carers — and we actively encourage connection, collaboration and friendship. Through support groups, buddying systems, and regular events for the whole fostering household, you’ll have chances to:

• Build bonds with other carers
• Share experiences and ideas
• Support each other during the highs and the lows

You’ll also be part of The Fostering Network, the UK’s leading fostering charity, which provides independent advice, advocacy and resources.

Additional Support Includes:

• Monthly supervision visits and regular phone check-ins
• 24/7 phone support for emergencies or urgent advice
• Access to events, workshops and family fun days
• Legal protection insurance
• Foster carer newsletters and updates
• Optional carer mentoring if you’d like extra peer support

Ready to Talk?

Whether you’re thinking about becoming a foster carer or are already approved, we’re here to talk through what support looks like in practice. Reach out today — and see what fostering the Wholistic way can feel like.

👉 Get in touch