Become a foster carer

We need foster carers from all walks of life who can provide different types of foster care to provide safety, stability and a safe place to stay for babies, children, young people, teenagers and sibling groups in our region.

To become a foster carer, you need to:

be 25 or over (in some circumstances we will consider people between 21 and 25 years old)
have a separate spare bedroom suitable for a child or young person (unless you are fostering babies who can be accommodated in a cot in a main bedroom)
be a full-time resident in the UK or have leave to remain
have the time and commitment to give to a child or young person, often on a full-time basis

How to apply

If you are interested in becoming a foster carer, request a fostering information pack.

Request an information pack from Foster with North East

You can also contact Foster with North East via telephone by calling 0800 917 7771 or visit the Foster with North East website for more information.

What happens next?

To find out about the next steps after you make your enquiry including the assessment, read our step-by-step guide to becoming a foster carer.

Events and information sessions

We hold a range of virtual and in-person information sessions throughout the year to help you learn more about fostering and becoming a foster carer.

It's an opportunity to ask any questions and to meet our friendly team who will talk in more detail about:

what being a foster carer means
what makes a good foster carer
myth busters
the journey to become a foster carer
what to expect during the fostering assessment
the support you will receive

Attending an information session is the first step in what could be a very exciting and rewarding decision. We hope you can join us on one of the following dates to find out more about becoming a foster carer:

Monday 25 November 2024 - online fostering information session from 7pm to 8pm
Tuesday 3 December 2024 - online information session from 7pm to 8pm

Our online information sessions are delivered via Teams. Once you have registered you will be sent some simple instructions of how to join the call on a smart phone or tablet.

Book your place on an information session

Fostering case study

Claire and Olly have been Foster Carers with Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council for over 10 years. In this video they speak about what motivated them to foster, their experience of fostering teenagers and their birth daughters share what it's like growing up in a fostering family.