Don’t wait - Apply to be a foster carer in 2026

Are you considering a career change or pursuing something new this year? Could 2026 be the year you join our fostering team and change the lives of local children for the better?

We are currently recruiting foster carers in the West Midlands and surrounding areas. If you have been thinking about becoming a foster carer, why not take the first steps of your journey this January?

Applying to foster isn’t as difficult as you may think. Right from your very first phone call, our team will be there to support you. Experienced and friendly, all of the Focus social workers are committed to making the assessment process as smooth and stress-free as possible.

Applying to foster with Focus Foster Care

Towards the end of last year, we were thrilled to welcome Tracy and Pete to our fostering team. Tracy and Pete have no previous fostering experience but they have made a wonderful addition to the Focus family. To help you decide whether fostering is the right choice for you, our newest foster carers have shared their experience of joining our independent fostering agency.

“Applying to Focus was simple! We had a response from them very quickly, going through the first stage was quick and easy. Stage 2 is longer and very thorough but we had all the support required along the process from our lovely supervising social worker Fiona. All the staff at Focus are amazing and they make you feel part of their family. When our assessment was complete, 4 months later we went in front of the panel to become foster carers, this was nerve wracking but again we had the support of the whole team, we had the expected checks on our house to ensure it was safe to take in foster children and everyone in our household including pets were listed on our profile. Since becoming foster carers things moved very quickly and the team worked very hard to get us our match. Two weeks after being approved, a sibling group of two amazing sisters came to live with us and they were the perfect fit for us and our family as a whole. We are regularly checked in on to ensure we are coping and we are given plenty of training and assistance along the way. We thought fostering would be very rewarding albeit difficult at times but with the support from Focus it has been made easier, we would recommend Focus Foster Care to anyone who is thinking of making this commitment.”

Tracy and Peter

Focus foster carers

How to become a foster carer in 2026

As Tracy and Pete shared above, there are several stages involved in the foster carer assessment process. The process can be lengthy, but we are here to support you every step of the way.

Here is a simple breakdown of how to become a foster carer in the UK:

Call our agency to make an initial enquiry – This is an informal chat and there is no obligation to continue with an application if you change your mind.
Home visit with a social worker – A member of our team will visit you at home to discuss fostering with you in more detail and to see the space you have available.
Application form – We will provide you with an application form that will need to be filled out before we can continue the process. Your social worker can help you with your form if you need assistance.
Background checks – We will perform several background checks, including a DBS and home risk assessment.
CoramBAAF Form F assessment – Your social worker will visit you once a week for 8 weeks. During this time, your social worker will share more information about fostering and perform their assessments.
Foster carer training – During your assessment you will need to complete mandatory training courses. These sessions must be completed for you to be approved by our fostering panel.
Panel – Your application will be reviewed and quality assured by our fostering panel. You will be asked to attend the panel meeting, where our members will ask you a few final questions before passing their assessment on to the agency’s Decision Maker.
Approval – Once your application has been approved, you are ready for your first placement. At this stage, you are now an approved foster carer.
Your fostering journey can now begin!

If you call us this January, you could be approved by our panel and be getting ready to welcome a child into your home before the summer arrives.

Contact our independent fostering agency today

Thousands more foster carers are needed across the UK in 2026. Could you help?

Contact our friendly team today for more information.

Get in touch by calling 0800 524 4797 or send an email to admin@focusfostercare.com. You can also reach us by filling out our online contact form.

“We thought fostering would be very rewarding albeit difficult at times but with the support from Focus it has been made easier, we would recommend Focus Foster Care to anyone who is thinking of making this commitment.”

Tracy and Peter

Focus foster carers

Want to know more?