Find Us In Devon
Who Can Foster in Devon?
We work with people from a wide range of backgrounds – single, married, working or retired.
There are a few essential requirements:
· A spare bedroom: every child needs their own private space
· Age: you must be at least 21 years old
· Residency: you must have the right to live and work in the UK
You don’t necessarily need to drive. You don’t need formal childcare qualifications – we provide the training and support you’ll need. And we actively welcome people from all cultural backgrounds, faiths and communities.
Financial Support & Devon Fostering Allowances
Fostering is a professional commitment, and the financial support reflects that.
· Weekly professional allowance: typically, around £482 per week
· Enhanced payments: up to £600 per week depending on the needs of the child or sibling group
· Tax benefits: fostering income is treated differently by HMRC, giving you a fixed tax exemption of £19,360 per year, plus an additional weekly tax relief for every child in your care
· Overall income: because these tax allowances combine, foster parents based in Devon can earn around £31,200 completely tax-free
We’ll always be clear about what you can expect financially, so you can make an informed decision.
Events
Join Our Live Digital Q&A Sessions.
Learn all you need to know about foster care and what is required in our live Zoom Q&A sessions.
How to Become a Foster Parent in Devon
We aim to complete the fostering assessment in 4–6 months – thorough but not unnecessarily drawn out. Here’s what happens:
- Enquiry – speak to our London team or one of our Recruitment Ambassadors
- Home visit – an open conversation about your circumstances and what fostering involves
- Assessment & training – you’ll work with a dedicated social worker and begin therapeutic training
- Panel – your assessment is reviewed by an independent fostering panel for approval
- A Home for a Child – you’ll work with our Family Finding team to match with a child and begin your fostering journey
The Need for Foster Parents in Devon
There is a significant and growing need for foster parents across Devon and the wider region. Far too many children are waiting for a safe and loving place to call their home. We need Life Changer foster parents ready to step into these roles.
- Short-term fostering: providing a steady anchor during a time of transition
- Long-term fostering: committing to a child’s future until they reach adulthood
- Disability and complex needs fostering: taking care of children with significant challenges
- Parent and child fostering: caring for infants as well as their parents.
- Fostering siblings: ensuring brothers and sisters can stay together
Local Support & Community
When you foster with Compass, you’re not doing it alone. You become part of a professional community of Life Changers – supported by experienced social workers, local peer networks and regular reflective supervision.
That support matters. Because fostering is not about getting everything right. It’s about having the right people around you when things are difficult.
Your Senior Compass Fostering Devon Team
Meet the key members of our team dedicated to fostering success:
Clem Mayne
Head of Fostering
Louise Davidson
Senior Operations Manager (Maternity Leave)
David Mercer
Operations Manager
Bryony Rogers
Operations Manager
Karen Murdoch
Operations Manager
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Fostering isn’t easy. But it’s one of the most important things you can do to transform the life of a child. If you’re ready to explore whether fostering could be right for you – and want to do it with a team that will have your back – we’d like to hear from you.
Fostering in Devon — Compass FAQs
The Fostering Basics
What fostering roles are in demand in Devon?
At the moment, there is an increasing need for placements for teenagers and siblings. We are also seeing a high requirement for parent and child placements.
Which local authorities do you work with?
As one of the leading fostering agencies in Devon, we work closely with local authorities throughout the South region. In Devon specifically, we manage placements via the so-called peninsula contracts, a partnership between Devon, Plymouth, Torbay and Somerset councils.
The Fostering Journey
Where will my training take place?
Training is offered at our main Exeter office. We provide a substantial amount of online training as well.
Do I need to be able to drive?
Being able to drive is not a strict requirement to become a foster carer in Devon. However, relying solely on public transport could potentially present difficulties. During your assessment, we will identify local schools and work out how a child would travel to them from your specific location.
How long does it take to be approved?
The fostering assessment process typically takes around 4 to 6 months to complete, concluding with your approval at our fostering panel.
Once approved, how quickly can I welcome my first child?
There is no specific set timeframe, as it is entirely based on matching the specific needs of the child. However, we attempt to support carers by matching them with children virtually immediately after they have completed their basic induction training.
How does the matching process work and will I have a say?
Matching reports and placement referrals are fully shared and discussed with both you and your Supervising Social Worker. Our foster parents in Devon are fully involved in the matching process. You will have the opportunity to outline your capacity to provide for the placement and detail any additional needs you may have.
Professional Support & Practicalities
Where are your local offices?
Our main office for the Devon area is located right here in Exeter.
How often do I need to visit?
There is no set frequency requirement for you to attend the office, as our team will visit you directly.
Who supports me out of hours?
We offer 24-hour support to our carers, 365 days a year. Our out-of-hours service is shared across a constellation of three or four regions. When you phone us, a supervising social worker will take the initial call to provide guidance and advice. An operational manager and a head of fostering are also available on duty to support.
How often will my Supervising Social Worker visit?
Because they are based locally, initially, your Supervising Social Worker will visit you on a fortnightly basis. Following this period, supervision visits will take place monthly.
What support is available for more complex situations?
Because our region is more rural than urban, many of our carers have multiple spare bedrooms, allowing us to successfully place and support sibling groups. We have carers who specialise in sanctuary-seeking children, some of whom share diverse community backgrounds, languages or personal lived experiences of settling in the UK. We work closely with local authorities to identify suitable schooling and utilise our internal education team for specialised intervention.
Community, Events & Networks
Will there be other Compass foster parents near me?
Whilst we cannot guarantee a foster parent in your immediate neighbourhood, all of our foster parents are organised into local “constellations” or hub groups. Carers in your local area will offer advice, practical support and guidance. Local foster parents also provide respite care for one another and offer sessional support during placement difficulties.
Do you offer mentoring or buddy support?
Yes, we identify a buddy for all new carers at the point of approval. Local hub representatives will reach out to you directly to offer targeted support and connections. If you’d like, you can also be added to our local social media contact groups to easily connect with other nearby carers!
What local events do you run?
We celebrate Black History Month as well as a wide range of multi-faith customs and festivals. We actively recognise and celebrate diversity, neurodiversity, and the long service of our foster parents. In the summer, we participate in local children’s activity days, including things like local farm visits, allowing children to build relationships in their immediate community.
How do you support diverse families and communities?
To support our foster parents in Devon, we actively employ practitioners from diverse backgrounds and promote a culture of inclusion, collaborating with placing authorities to ensure a child’s specific cultural needs are being met. We also facilitate cultural connections, such as bringing together a child and social worker of similar backgrounds to cook traditional food in the foster home.
