Fostering and adoption

Become a foster carer

We're recruiting foster carers in Suffolk

Fostering is an incredibly rewarding journey. The children in our care need foster parents with aspirations for them and a belief that they can reach their full potential.

We’re looking for people with real personalities and a sense of fun. People with a passion and an ability to provide children in our care with love, patience and a sense of belonging.

Why foster with Suffolk?

• Ofsted Outstanding rating
• 24-hour dedicated support, including therapeutic fostering support
• Dedicated community of existing foster carers and ambassadors
• Fantastic training opportunities
• Tier level payments dependent on the level of care
• Non-profit organisation – supporting children, teenagers and families from your own community

Who can foster?

There’s no such thing as a typical foster carer – they come from all walks of life

• Married, single or living with a partner of either gender
• In full time or part time employment or unemployed
• Male, female or transgender
• Parent or childless (with experience of looking after children or young people)
• Any race, religion or culture of any age over 21
• Disabled or non-disabled
• A home owner or living in rented accommodation

Find out more information about fostering on our new website.

Adoption

Suffolk Adoption Agency can now accept enquiries from prospective adopters who live in Suffolk.

If you live outside of Suffolk, please visit AdoptEast or the First4Adoption website to find your nearest adoption agency who will be able to assist you.

Why adopt with Suffolk?

When you adopt with us, you will:

• adopt with an agency that's highly experienced and Ofsted Outstanding rated
• benefit from our membership of the Adopt East Alliance - the scale of this partnership provides adopters with a wide number of children as well as the sharing of best practice throughout the adoption process
• We’re part of the Local Authority and as a result, we have the widest number of children in Suffolk
• You’ll get ongoing support and training around various subjects and skillsets as well as being provided with timely feedback and guidance surrounding the entire process.
• Our teams are highly experienced, professional and fully committed to helping you to become adoptive parents.
• provide a child who cannot be cared for by their birth parents the chance to grow in a caring family
• have big aspirations for your child and stay committed to enabling them to succeed on their own path
• We’re a not-for profit organisation and accountable to the public and not to shareholders.
• the option of being part of a friendly and supportive group of adopters within your local area.

Who can adopt?

Consider your own background and life experiences and what they can bring to help a child establish their identity and sense of belonging. Adoption can be physically and emotionally demanding, and this is why age, health and lifestyle of applicants are all considered as part of the assessment process.

Many people contact us because they want to know if they’re able to adopt and whether they meet the criteria – we’d always welcome a discussion with you to best understand your own unique set of circumstances – so get in touch to find out more.

We've answered some of the most commonly asked questions on our service website.