Areas We Cover
We provide 24/7 wraparound support to foster parents across the city, including: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan.
Our Local Office
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Larkhill House,
160 St Georges Road,
Bolton, Greater Manchester,
BL1 2NZ -
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01204 399 514
Who Can Foster?
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 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 & Manchester 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 £800 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: at the higher rate of £800 per week, foster parents in Manchester can receive up to £41,600 per year, which may be completely tax-free depending on their circumstances.
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
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 Manchester
There is a significant and growing need for foster parents across Manchester 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 Team
Meet the key members of our team dedicated to fostering success:
Vera Hadwen
Head of Fostering
Rebecca Kirkwood
Operations Manager
Karen Phillips
Operations Manager
Manchester Fostering — Compass FAQs
The Fostering Basics
What fostering roles are in demand in Manchester?
There is currently a strong need for foster parents who are able to support babies for up to two years and help transition them to adoptive families. There is also a need for carers with multiple available bedrooms who can keep together sibling groups of three or more.
Which local authorities do you work with?
As one of the leading fostering agencies in Manchester, we partner with the majority of local authorities across the North West.
The Fostering Journey
Where will my training take place?
Face-to-face training is conducted at our regional office in nearby Bradford. To make attendance easier, however, our training programme includes a flexible mixture of face-to-face, virtual and online sessions, and local hotels are often hired out for training purposes.
Do I need to be able to drive?
Yes, having a car and being able to drive is essential for fostering in Manchester. Driving is necessary to transport children to their specific schools to minimise disruption, as well as to attend family time and medical appointments. Local authorities in the city frequently require driving capability as a precondition for placing a child.
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 North region has a highly efficient family finding team that successfully matches children very quickly. Consequently, on average, a first placement takes roughly four to six weeks in Manchester. In many cases, placements are found much sooner than the average timeframe.
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 Manchester are fully involved in the matching process for any placements made with them. 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 physical office is located in Bolton, Greater Manchester.
How often do I need to visit?
You will not be required to visit our central office frequently, as many support groups and training courses (like paediatric first aid) are hosted in local hotels to be closer to where our foster parents live.
Who supports me out of hours?
Emergency calls are handled by a dedicated Supervising Social Worker based in or near Manchester. You will call a central number that forwards directly to the on-call local social worker, ensuring you always speak to someone who understands your concerns.
How often will my Supervising Social Worker visit?
Your Supervising Social Worker will visit your home at least once a month for standard support. If you are new to fostering in Manchester, they will typically visit twice a month to provide extra guidance.
What support is available for more complex situations?
Our most vital resource is our therapeutic service, with practitioners actively providing support at any time, without waiting for a crisis to occur. An educational specialist service is also available to advocate for children across the region. Our trained care ambassadors provide localised, practical support.
Community, Events & Networks
Will there be other Compass foster parents near me?
Yes, Compass foster parents are widely distributed throughout the North region, meaning there will very likely be others near you in Manchester!
Do you offer mentoring or buddy support?
Yes, our localised “Carer for Carers” programme pairs newly approved foster parents with experienced local carers, providing dedicated mentorship and support.
What local events do you run?
We have approximately 11 localised support groups running once a month across the North. These support groups operate in localised hubs to ensure easy access. The Head of Fostering for the North West also makes a point to personally travel and meet all new foster parents after they’ve been approved by the panel.
How do you support diverse families and communities?
Our Manchester team will soon be launching an LGBTQ+ support group. To support Asian and Muslim families in our region, celebrations and meals for Eid are also being considered. There are also ongoing discussions to establish specific support groups tailored to Black and Afro-Caribbean communities.
