Foster with us is a collaboration, uniting five local authorities in the north west:
- Blackburn with Darwen
- Blackpool
- Cumberland
- Lancashire
- Westmorland and Furness
We are joining forces for the first time to provide the best start for anyone interested in exploring the opportunity of foster care.
Supported by the Department for Education, we are combining our knowledge, skills and expertise to provide the best experience for prospective foster carers, existing foster carers and the children they care for through our hub.
How Foster with us works
Each of the partner fostering services is committed to communicating and sharing resources to give new and existing foster carers one single hub, with all the information you might need to know.
Our hub has a dedicated team of friendly advisors ready to respond to all enquiries within 24 hours. They can arrange calls on a day that suits you, 7 days a week, and support you through each stage of the application process.
The hub team will work closely with your preferred local authority to make sure that your foster journey is a seamless one.
People interested in becoming a foster carer will also have access to an increased level of support from existing foster carers and young people, with the Foster with us Buddy scheme. Hearing directly from those doing it already is a great way of finding out about the realities of what is involved.
Benefits for existing foster carers
The hub also benefits our existing foster carers by providing a central resource for the pioneering programme, Mockingbird. Mockingbird is an innovative method of delivering foster care using an extended family model.
This model includes:
- sleepovers
- peer support
- regular joint planning and training
- social activities
The programme helps to improve the stability of fostering homes and strengthens the relationships between carers, children and young people, fostering services and birth families.
Get in touch
Our team of fostering experts are always on hand to help. Speak to our fostering hub co-ordinators to find out more about our partnership and how it can benefit you.