Foster Care UK - Family Foster Care - Fostering a Child UK

2. About Us • Sunbeam Fostering Agency is one of the largest independent fostering agencies in the UK. • We welcome foster carers from a diverse range of backgrounds and all ages. • We importantly look for carers that are committed to working with challenging and vulnerable children.

3. Our Services Securing tender/framework contracts Recruiting Foster Carers How to Foster a Child

4. Our Services Description Recruiting Foster Carers Recruiting foster carers (Foster carers are people who have a spare bedroom in their home and provide care to children in care. To become a foster carer, they normally contact agencies like us. We do their assessment to make sure they are suitable and can fulfil all the requirements. We provide them free training and ongoing support in order for them to look after the children placed with them in their care). So why someone will become a foster carer with us because we offer them, • Competitive fostering allowance of up to £650 per child per week • We are nationwide and work with over 50 local authorities • Free ongoing training • We are Ofstedoutstanding • Local support staff • Out of office hours support

5. Our Services Description Securing framework contracts Securing tender/framework contracts from local authorities (local government councils). Local authorities are the government bodies who are responsible to place children who come to care. There are many reasons children come in to care. For example, neglect by their parents, abuse by their parents, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children from countries like Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Somalia etc. • We recruit in their local areas • We have over 200 foster carers from a diverse background • We are Ofsted outstanding

6. Our Services Description Securing framework contracts These local authorities will first try to place them with their own foster carers (they have their own as well and recruit foster carers). If they can't find it, they contact providers like us to place these children. Now we have to sell our business to local authorities as well and they can ask why should they place their children with our foster carers. For this, they issue tender and framework contracts and normally agencies who are part of the framework contract will be notified first. We secure the contract from local authorities because we say to them • There are many other factors in getting a contract from the local authorities but these are few. • Children previously placed with our foster carers have done well • And progressed further in their lives (good job, higher education etc)

7. Our Services Description How To Foster A Child The decision to foster is an important one and an important question for anyone considering fostering. It requires a lot of thought and consideration. Sunbeam has created a specific Guide to Foster Care to help you decide if fostering is right for you, and answer any questions you may have. Although fostering children is a major decision, Sunbeam has created an informative guide and a step by step online application, to make the process as streamlined as possible. Fostering will no doubt change your life, and it is best to get as much information as possible. As a private fostering agency, Sunbeam aims to support and guide all its foster carers on how best to foster children by providing up to date training and development, and staff committed to the welfare of both children and foster carers.

8. WHY CHOOSE SUNBEAM FOSTERING AGENCY • Professional, experienced, qualified staff to undertake your assessment • High quality, professional extensive support • A supervising social worker who will be local to you and dedicated to supporting you • Full support on A 24 hour basic through our out of hours team • Comprehensive and progressive up to date training programme • The chance to be treated as A fostering professional • The opportunity to become an enhanced foster carer for children with challenging needs. This may be A child with disabilities, autism or learning difficulties. We are following ARC model for this which is being rolled out across the group to develop and promote foster carers’ skills, understanding and ability to intervene therapeutically. • Careful matching of placements with your family • Regular support groups for foster carers and children • Competitive fostering allowances to cover children’s needs

9. Sunbeam Features

10. Our Certifications

11. Contact Sunbeam Fostering Fostering is a life changing experience and an amazing journey. Whether you are making an application or need more information about the process and would like to discuss things further, we are here to go through this with you and help you start your fostering journey. Our central recruitment team will respond to all fostering enquiries and answer any questions you may have. We will work with you to find out if fostering is the right choice for you before making any prior commitment. Lines are open Monday – Friday between 9am – 6pm. Our central recruitment team can be contacted on 0208 7990 930. LANGLEY (London & South - Registered) 020 8799 0930 MIDLANDS (Registered Office) 024 7642 0390 LUTON (Sunbeam Pride) 01582 433 775

12. Contact Sunbeam Fostering Website: https://sunbeamfostering.com/ Email: info@sunbeamfostering.com Lines are open Monday – Friday between 9am – 6pm. Our central recruitment team can be contacted on 0208 7990 930. LANGLEY (London & South - Registered) 020 8799 0930 MIDLANDS (Registered Office) 024 7642 0390 LUTON (Sunbeam Pride) 01582 433 775

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