Considering Fostering?
What is Ryancare Fostering?
Ryancare Fostering was established in 2002. As an outstanding agency, we pride ourselves in good quality and nurturing families for children.
In 2008, Ryancare joined with its partners Next Step Fostering. The two agencies, sharing similar values offer local authorities some of the best families for children and young people.
Next Step is an established and creative childcare organisation that has offered a wide range of fostering services to children and young people since 1988. The Head Office is in Faversham, Kent with a further office in the Medway Towns, Kent and then three offices in London situated at Selsdon (South London), Barking (East London) and Burnham (West London).
Within Ryancare, we have a qualified and experienced team of professionals who offer immediate support, training and guidance to carers to ensure the children we look after are given the best opportunities.
Why choose an independant Fostering Team and not a Local Authority.?
The Local Authorities are ultimately responsible for the well being of all children who come in to the care system. The Local Authorities need to find the best way of looking after these children and on many occasions they do not have the provisions to do so.
Independent fostering agencies such as Ryancare provide a specialist fostering service to Local Authorities and we work in partnership with them. We have our own foster carers, social workers, therapists and staff who work hard to ensure that the needs of the carers and children are met to high standards and without delay.
Who can apply to be a foster carer?
Anyone can be a good foster carer. It does not matter what your background is or if you are married or single, gay or lesbian, young or old. We have a diverse range of children to look after and as such, we need a diverse range of carers.
Initial discussions will include questions about your home environment, motivation and commitment. Overall, we want to make sure you are ready to foster and will discuss how it will impact on you and your family.
Training and Preparation for carers
To fulfil their role as carers, Ryancare families participate in an intensive training and assessment process. It is this process that informs both you and Ryancare whether you will be suitable to look after foster children.
We will discuss the assessment process with you in more detail when we meet and if you have any concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to ask.