Becoming a Foster Carer with Five Rivers means playing a life-changing role in a child’s journey, but it also means discovering a new sense of purpose in your own. Carers often tell us that fostering changes how they see themselves, their family, and the impact they can have in the world.
Carers aren’t left to navigate fostering alone; we support you throughout your training. As children grow in confidence, so will you, building resilience, fulfilment, and pride in the difference you make.
As a Social Enterprise, we reinvest more than half of our profits into improving services that support children and young people who are in our care. Our approach is rooted in evidence-based practice, ensuring that Foster Carers and Responsible Adults receive specialist training in Attachment & Trauma Informed Care (ATIC ®).
To support our Foster Carers, we provide them with a competitive fostering allowance. This is made possible because we operate as an independent agency and a Social Enterprise.
Our Social Workers work closely with our in-house Clinicians to create personalised, therapeutic support plans which are funded through our Social Enterprise reinvestment.
You will be supported by a dedicated, highly trained Supervising Social Worker who offers regular, trauma informed guidance, so you can feel supported every step of the way.
Our highly qualified staff are available to you round the clock, day or night.
We developed the Attachment and Trauma-Informed Care Model (ATIC®) which is used throughout Five Rivers to equip Foster Carers and our team with the skills to support their foster children effectively.
We have a network with other carers in your area which can offer you additional support and give you the opportunity to discuss any issues and concerns you may have. You will also have instant access to Foster Talk, an independent support and advice service for Foster Carers.
We have respite carers available so that you can have a break when needed.
We work closely with Local Authorities and offer additional clinical, educational and participation opportunities to ensure every foster child feels supported and empowered to express themselves and shape positive change within themselves.
We provide our Foster Carers birth children with support where this can be shaped on an individual basis to contribute within the foster home.
For many young people, transitioning from care can be difficult, which is why we created Five Rivers Futures, a service that offers financial grants, information signposts, and advocacy support.
Our team provides an extensive range of specialist training (free of charge), as well as dedicated support for you and your family.
1. Get in Touch
Get in touch with Five Rivers: 0333 0603 962 | [email protected]
2. Initial Screening
Our friendly Carer Enquiries team will do an initial screening over the phone.
3. Initial home visit
A local Social Worker will arrange to meet you at your home for an Initial Home Visit (IHV).
4. Application form support
During the Initial Home Visit (IHV) we will talk more about fostering and support you with understanding and filling in the application form.
5. Social worker allocation
Five Rivers will review your application form, and a qualified Social Worker will now be allocated to assess you and your family.
6. Assessment form
The Foster Carer Assessment (Form F) is completed. The process takes up to six months.
7. Panel meeting
At the fostering panel meeting, you will attend a panel, who will review your application. The Panel makes a recommendation to the Agency Decision Maker (ADM).
8. Congratulations!
Our Agency Decision Maker (ADM) approves you to be a Foster Carer. The ADM makes the final decision to either approve or provide any additional considerations.
We have supported 1000’s of children and will continue to help more.
All of our fostering offices are rated as “Good” by Ofsted.
Our Social Enterprise reinvestment has funded ATIC®F, our new therapeutic approach to support children in foster care.
Our helpful brochure gives you more information about the rewarding work our Foster Carers do.
To support our carers, we provide a weekly foster care allowance made up of a professional fee and a living allowance for the child.
We understand that the decision to transfer fostering agency can seem daunting, but we will be on hand from day one to make sure everything progresses smoothly.
There are some basic criteria you’ll need to meet to be considered as a Foster Carer. You will need to:
Yes, you must have a dedicated, furnished spare bedroom to foster. This room must be for the sole use of the foster child and cannot be used by anyone else. A separate, private room is required to ensure a safe, stable environment that provides a sense of belonging.
Foster Carers receive a fostering allowance whilst they have a child living with them, and we require a carer to be available within the household to meet the child’s needs on a full-time basis. In some cases, it may still be possible to continue working part time or full-time but fostering must be your primary focus. You will need to be available to attend training, support groups, and children and young people’s meetings.
Yes, you can have a preference of the age range of children you’d like to foster with Five Rivers. We will work with you to match children to your experience, lifestyle, and preferences, covering ages from infants to teenagers and young adults. You can specify your preferred age group during the approval process; however, an openness to accepting a wider age range increases matching potential.
Yes, you generally need to be able to drive and have access to a car to ensure you can transport children to school, appointments, and contact visits. While having a car and license is highly desirable, we may consider applicants who can prove they have reliable access to transport.
Five Rivers Foster Carers must be full-time UK residents with the legal right to work and live in the UK. An applicant needs to be either a British Citizen or have Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). Applicants that are solely residing in the UK on a work or sponsored Visa cannot apply until they have their Indefinite Leave to Remain. Spouse Visas can be considered if a partner is a British citizen or settled in the UK, ensuring long-term stability to care for vulnerable children.
We offer extensive support and training for Foster Carers, including 24/7, 365-day support, from a local fostering team with dedicated Supervising Social Workers. You will have access to monthly support network meetings, peer support, and Foster Talk membership.
We provide all our Foster Carers with specialist training and opportunities to learn new skills. Starting with the Skills to Foster course, our training has been organised in a way that suits you; it’s local and accessible with free specialist training. Our focus is on therapeutic care through the Attachment and Trauma-Informed Care Model (ATIC ®) to support children with complex needs, alongside competitive allowances.
If you’re ready to apply or simply want to find out more about fostering, you can fill in the contact form and our Carer Enquiries team will be in touch.
You can use our Live chat to talk directly with our Carers Enquiries team and find out more about fostering with Five Rivers.
Your local fostering team will be there to support you, offering personalised, professional guidance throughout your fostering journey.
