Find Us In Hertfordshire
Who Can Foster in Hertfordshire?
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 & Hertfordshire Fostering Allowance
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, many carers 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.
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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 Hertfordshire
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 Hertfordshire
There is a significant and growing need for foster parents across Hertfordshire 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 Hertfordshire Team
Meet the key members of our team dedicated to fostering success:
Katy Jane O’Reilly
Head of Fostering
Kevin Rowark
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 Hertfordshire — Compass FAQs
The Fostering Basics
What fostering roles are in demand in the Hertfordshire region?
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.
Which local authorities do you work with?
As one of the leading fostering agencies in Hertfordshire, with work closely with virtually all local authorities in the area, including those in the wider East region.
The Fostering Journey
Where will my training take place?
For Hertfordshire residents, we arrange local training sessions close to your home to deliver our “Foster Care Foundations” course.
Do I need to be able to drive?
While it is generally much easier if you drive, it largely depends on your specific location. If you live centrally in Hertfordshire, you can likely get away without driving. If you live in a remote or rural village, however, driving will be necessary.
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?
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.
How does the matching process work and will I have a say?
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.
Professional Support & Practicalities
Where are your local offices?
While our physical office for the East region as a whole is located in Thetford, for Hertfordshire foster parents, we also have a Compass location a little closer to home in Hornchurch.
How often do I need to visit?
Because a large portion of our work is conducted online, you will rarely, if ever, need to physically visit the office.
Who supports me out of hours?
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 Hertfordshire team the following morning for follow-up.
How often will my Supervising Social Worker visit?
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.
What support is available for more complex situations?
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.
Community, Events & Networks
Will there be other Compass foster parents near me?
Yes, we have a large network of Compass carers across the entire East region, so it is highly likely that another carer will be located near you in Hertfordshire.
Do you offer mentoring or buddy support?
We are currently reviewing the implementation of our “Carer for Carers” mentoring system with operations managers to ensure new carers have peer support.
What local events do you run?
We organise various activities, including beach days, walks in the 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.
How do you support diverse families and communities?
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 specialise 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 foster parents and the young people in their care.
