Start Fostering in East Anglia

Respite, or short break placements, are currently the most desperately needed. There is also a significant shortage of parent and child placements. We have a high demand for complex, trauma-informed foster care.

We work with several local authorities across the region, including Norfolk, Suffolk, Bedford, Essex, Thurrock, and Cambridge.

Introductory “Foster Care Foundations” training is typically held at our agency in Thetford. For those living further away, such as in Milton Keynes or Essex, we can arrange local training closer to your home.

While it is generally much easier if you drive, it largely depends on your specific location. If you live centrally in a city like Norwich, you can likely get away without driving. If you live in a remote or rural village, driving will be necessary.

The fostering assessment process typically takes around 4 to 6 months to complete, concluding with your approval at our fostering panel.

The timeframe depends entirely on your specific requirements and preferences. If you are open to caring for a child of any age (0-18) with varying complexities, you could receive a placement on the day you are approved. If your preferences are highly specific or restrictive, the matching process will naturally take longer.

You will have a 100% say at every single step, and it is ultimately your choice who comes into your home. Matches are based on your assessment, your family’s needs, and the child’s specific complexities. We also carefully consider practical factors, such as keeping the child close to their current school and factoring in likes or dislikes, such as a child’s fear of dogs.

Our physical office is located in Thetford.

Because a large portion of our work is conducted online, you will rarely, if ever, need to physically visit the office.

Out-of-hours support is handled by a rota of social workers. Any information or concerns reported during the night are immediately passed to our local East team the following morning for follow-up.

Yes, we ensure you are matched with a Supervising Social Worker who is based locally to you. They will visit your home at least once a month to ensure you are well settled. If you require extra support or have specific concerns, they will visit more frequently.

Beyond regular visits from your Supervising Social Worker, we have trained therapists available to provide you with additional support, and one of our social workers is specifically taking up an education liaison role for the region. We liaise directly with the local authority to ensure your young person receives any specific therapy they might need, and we provide bespoke training tailored to the specific needs of the child in your care.

Yes, we have a large network of Compass carers across the entire region, so it is highly likely that another carer will be located near you.

We are currently reviewing the implementation of our “Carers for Carers” mentoring system with operations managers to ensure new carers have peer support.

We organise various activities, including beach days, walks in Thetford Woods, Easter egg hunts, bulb planting, decorating events, and summer fishing activities for our carers. We are actively consulting with operations managers to organise and increase the number of local carer meet-ups and coffee mornings. Birth children are actively welcomed and invited to most of our general activities and regional events, and we are looking into organising more specific support groups for them moving forward.

Our approach to diversity and inclusion is strictly underpinned by the Compass GRACE principles. We have social workers with specialisms in diverse areas, including ensuring appropriate cultural matching and support, as well as dedicated social workers who specialize in supporting LGBT+ networks and gender differences. Our team holds regular meetings to discuss and improve how we support the specific inclusion needs of both our carers and the young people in our care.