We are an independent fostering agency offering a high quality, personalised service to Foster Carers and children and young people across Dorset and the surrounding areas. We acknowledge and value the importance of local presence and support for the children and young people, local authorities and Foster Carers we serve. This helps us all work effectively together and makes certain everyone feel as they belong.
Established for over 10 years from our base in Bournemouth, we support children and young people in Foster Care across Dorset and the surrounding areas. In October 2024 Footprints Foster Care joined forces with Sunbeam Fostering Group, the founders of Footprints Foster Care remain fully involved in the service as the Registered Manager and Responsible Individual.
If you are looking to join a fostering agency where you will be personally known, valued and recognised as an important part of the team, please contact us by calling 01202 573408.
As well as all the usual benefits, we are proud to offer a support service that is personal to you. You will be supported by well qualified, experienced social workers who know you and your family circumstances well.
This means you will never have to explain your situation over the phone to a ‘stranger’. It also means we can better match a child to fit in with your family lifestyle and experience. We will never put pressure on you to look after a child you feel unable to manage.
We know fostering can be hard and we feel that it is vital to get the support right by listening to you and making changes from your feedback to ensure our service is providing you with what you want. We recognise foster carers develop skills through knowledge and experience and therefore, we provide opportunities for foster carers to take on additional tasks such as mentoring other carers, being involved with training and organising social events.
Select a team member’s image to find out more.
Responsible Individual
Registered Manager
Supervising Social Worker
Footprints Foster Care Ltd
Registered Company No 07879639
Longham Business Park
168 Ringwood Road
Ferndown
Dorset BH22 9BU
Please do not be anxious about contacting us
– we promise not to put you under any pressure. We are happy to answer your questions and we need to ask questions to make sure that you meet some basic criteria, such as do you have a spare bedroom and live in the right area?
Assuming that these basic criteria are met and you are happy to proceed, we will arrange to come and meet you at your home.
The home visit usually lasts 1-2 hours and gives both parties the chance to ask lots of questions. We find out more about you and you find out more about us and what we can offer. If everyone is happy to proceed you will be given an application form to complete.
If however, having found out more about fostering, you decide that you do not wish to proceed, then do not feel embarrassed to say so. We will also be honest and let you know if we do not feel it is in your interests to proceed.
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If you decide to proceed, you will complete an application form and go into the assessment process. This can take between 3–6 months and is undertaken by a qualified social worker.
It is a thorough process and one which helps people understand what has shaped their lives, prepares them for the challenge of fostering and determines their motivation to foster. As part of this process, we will also undertake statutory checks and personal references, including police checks, personal and employment references and medicals.
The social worker will also meet with your personal referees, members of your household and any adult children you have living away from home to ensure they fully support your intentions to foster.
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During the assessment period, you will have the opportunity to attend the Skills to Foster™ course that provides the foundation for future learning and development, as well as giving you the confidence to undertake your first placement.
You will also be required to complete a portfolio of evidence to support your assessment.
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After stage 3 has been completed, your assessment and portfolio will be presented to a Fostering Panel. The panel is made of experienced social work practitioners and independent members, who will have carefully considered the report in advance of the panel.
You and your assessor will both attend the fostering panel to enable panel members to meet you, address any points for clarification and hear any final questions you may have.
If the panel is satisfied the requirements regarding your suitability to foster are met, they will make a recommendation to approve you as a foster carer.
The ultimate decision to approve lies with the agency decision maker, who will carefully consider the recommendation made by the fostering panel.
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