3:02
NAFP Ofsted Outstanding Provider Ofsted Good Provider Race Equality Matters Member 2024/25

As a foster carer, you can make a real difference to the life of a young person.

  • You provide a safe, supportive environment for them to be themselves.
  • Act as role model teaching them everyday life skills as well as educational knowledge.
  • Provide them with new experiences that help shape their personality.

We help and guide you to become a foster carer.

Get in touch

Why choose Capstone as your foster care partner?

calendar

17 years experience in building brighter futures

heart

We're with you, every step of the way

chat

24/7 support for all of our foster carers

lightbulb

Shared experience to lean on - we have 600+ foster carers across the UK

clipboard

We answer all of your questions openly and honestly

We exist to provide our carers with the best support, communication, and training so they can make a lasting difference to the lives of disadvantaged children and young people in care.

Who can be a foster carer?

Your marital status won't affect your ability to foster a child, you can foster a child if you're single, or as a couple. What matters most in foster care is the foster carer's ability to provide a safe, loving and stable environment for the child. We recognise that diverse families can provide loving homes for children and young people.

Despite common beliefs, fostering can be a full-time career.

There are government established fostering allowances calculated on a weekly basis for fostering all children from birth until they turn 18.

Jerry Wang
Kadyn Pierce

Types of foster care

There are a number of different types of fostering to choose from, but some of the most well-known ones are:

  • Long-term fostering - this is when the foster child is likely to stay with their foster family for an extended period of time.
  • Short-term fostering - this is a temporary solution which means a child may need to be fostered a short while, whilst plans are put into place to reunite the child with their birth family, if possible.
  • Emergency fostering - this is usually a foster child who needs a placement short notice, and in some cases, can be for only a few nights.
  • Specialist fostering care - these fostering placements need additional specialist training as they accommodate children with complex needs.

Steps to becoming a foster carer (4-6 month process)

  • Contact Capstone Foster Care for a preliminary chat with one of our fostering advisors. It only takes a few questions to know if this is the right career for you.
  • A member of our team will visit your home. This gives you an opportunity to ask more questions and us the chance to see if you have the space necessary.
  • You then fill out an application form and a social worker begins the assessment process. The social worker will visit your home several times and get to know you and your household and learn about your experience with children.
  • There are several checks that are conducted. These include Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), Social Services and medical checks. As well there will be a home risk assessment.
  • You will then attend fostering training sessions where you meet other people undergoing the same process, learn about fostering, and have all your questions answered.
  • The final assessment is given to an independent panel which will meet with you. The panel provides Capstone Foster Care with its recommendation and our decision maker will make the final decision using the panel’s recommendation as a guide. It can take four to six months for your application to be reviewed.

Hear from our foster carers

2:15

Our Foster Carer, Saiqa

2:35

Our Foster Carer, Chris

3:37

Our Foster Carer, Lynne

Interested in becoming a foster carer? This is what happens next.

  • Once you complete the form, you will receive email confirmation of your enquiry and more information about Capstone Foster Care.
  • A local member of our team will call you to introduce themselves and arrange an appropriate day and time for a chat.

We're here to help and guide you to be a foster carer

* Required fields

We need this to put you in touch with your local fostering advisor

Ways to
GET IN TOUCH

Start the conversation today. Our team of friendly advisors are on hand to answer any foster care questions you may have. We can offer you honest and practical advice that can help you decide if becoming a foster carer is the right path for you. 


Request a
call back

Contact us by completing our online form and one of our fostering advisors will respond to your enquiry within 24 hours.



Call us

Contact us by phone and one of our friendly fostering experts will be on hand for any foster care advice and support you require.



Download a Brochure

Download our helpful guide to becoming a foster carer with Capstone Foster Care.