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Fostering in North Lincolnshire

Our ‘Everything’ fostering film

‘Everything’ is our latest fostering recruitment film, created collaboratively with 100 other local authority fostering services. The film shows the positive long-term impact fostering can have on those involved, showing one fostering household’s journey over decades. It features a couple of time-hops, telling the stories of two people, Will and Zara (now adults) that were fostered as children by Mike and his wife. The film also shows the important role birth children play as part of a fostering household.

‘Everything’ was developed with foster carers and people that have care experience; providing superb insights into the reality of fostering.

Watch our film below to find out more.

Fostering information events

  • Every 2nd Saturday of the month – Fostering & Adoption pop up – Ashby Hub, Scunthorpe, DN16 2UT – 9,45am – 11.15am
  • Tuesday 22 July, Brigg Family Fun Day, Brigg Methodist Church, 1pm – 4pm
  • Wednesday 23 July – Online Information Evening, 6.30-8pm – Register your interest on Eventbrite
  • Sunday 27 July – Wildlife Day at Water’s Edge, Barton upon Humber, DN18 5JR – 10am-4pm
  • Sunday 3 August, Picnic in the park at Baysgarth Park, Barton upon Humber, 12noon – 4pm
  • Wednesday 6 August – Ongo Carnival, Church square House, Scunthorpe, DN15 6NL – 11am – 3.30pm
  • Saturday 23 August – Scunthorpe Pride, Church Square House, Scunthorpe – 12pm – 7pm
  • Saturday 30 August, Goxhill Street Boot, Goxhill Church, DN19 7HX 11am – 3pm

Social worker of the year award - team of the year children's services

Our fostering services film showcases stories from North Lincolnshire foster carers and the impact fostering has had on their lives.

Our award-winning film, ‘Any Of Us’, shows that any one of us has the potential to foster, if you have a big heart to care.

North Lincolnshire Council provides different types of foster care placements to meet the different needs of our children and young people. How long you care for a foster child depends on the type of foster care you are approved for.

North Lincolnshire Council’s fostering services team was inspected and judged as Outstanding by Ofsted. You can read the Ofsted report here.

If you are interested in fostering or want to find out more, please contact our team on fostering@northlincs.gov.uk, call 01724 297000 or attend one of our fostering information events.

Friends of Fostering newsletter

If you would like to receive regular news, updates and information about our Fostering Community, please sign up to our Friends of Fostering newsletter.

Friends of Fostering sign up banner

Fostering in North Lincolnshire

In North Lincolnshire, we understand that every individual and circumstance is different which is why we need all different types of foster carers. Our expert team work closely with fostering households to match children and young people based on the individual care plan and carer’s personal skills, experience and recommendation of the type of foster care approved for.

Mainstream Foster Care

From an overnight stay to permanence into adulthood, mainstream foster care is dependant upon the child’s individual needs.

The includes:

  • Long Term
    • Providing a home for children and young people until they reach adulthood.
  • Short Term
    • Providing placement from an overnight stay up to two years.
  • Emergency Foster Care
    • Some children and young people need foster care on an unplanned basis for a variety of reasons. Foster carers can be specifically approved to fulfil this role to meet the needs of children during an emergency situation.

Short Break Foster Care

Short Break Foster Care welcomes children and young people for a week or long weekend on a regular, planned arrangement or impromptu basis.

Short Breaks + Foster Care – Providing specialist care and support for children and young people with disabilities. This can include day care or a limited number of overnight stays per month.

Parent and Child Foster Care

A specialist foster carer scheme for young parents and their children. Providing advice and guidance on childcare whilst acting as an important role in the parenting assessment.

Connected Persons Foster Care

Wherever possible, children who require alternative care are placed with friends or extended family members.

Supported Lodgings

The supported lodgings scheme is designed to provide a stepping-stone for young people aged 16 to 24, on their route to independence. Space to spare and time to care? Become a Supported Lodgings host in North Lincolnshire. Find out more on our Supported Lodgings page.

Private Fostering

A private fostering arrangement is made without the involvement of the local authority by someone other than a parent or ‘connected person’ wishing to care for a child under the age of 16 for 28 days or more. It is imperative that the local authority is informed of these arrangements to ensure a suitable placement and the safety of the young individual.

What is Kinship care?

Sometimes, children are cared for by family members, friends or other people known to them. This is called Kinship Care. A Kinship Care arrangement happens when parents are unable to care for their children, or where they feel it is in the best interests of the child. This could be temporary or longer term. A Kinship Carer might be a grandparent, an aunt or uncle or a family friend. You might also hear the term Connected Person or Family and Friends Carer.

Kinship care arrangements allow children and young people who can’t live with their parents to live with people who know them already, rather than come into the care system.

Types of kinship care

Informal Family Arrangement

Kinship care can be informal arrangements made by parents without any involvement from the local authority or family courts. This might be a step-parent, grandparent, sibling, aunt or uncle.

Private Fostering

A private fostering arrangement is where a child is under the age of 16 (or 18 if disabled) and is living with a friend or an extended family member (rather than a close family member like an aunt, uncle or grandparent) for more than 28 days.

Child Arrangements Order and Special Guardianship Order

These are legal decisions formalised through a court process about who a child lives with when circumstances have been determined that it is not appropriate for them to live with a parent. An assessment will be completed and presented to the court so a decision can be made. The court might decide for the child to live with a family member or friend.

Connected Person Foster Care

When a child is formally looked after by the local authority, a connected person foster carer is a family member or friend who the child is living with. We will complete an assessment to ensure you are the right person to care for the child, and part of this assessment will be determining what support you might need to do so.

Support and Training for Kinship Carers

Depending on the type of Kinship Carer you are, you will be entitled to support from us as your Local Authority. This might include:

  • Accessing support in the community at your local family hub
  • Financial support
  • Access therapeutic services via the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund
  • Your own allocated social worker or support worker
  • Access to training
  • Local peer support groups
  • Social groups for your children
  • Social events for children and families

If you think you might be a kinship carer, or want to find out more about the support on offer, please contact us on 01724297024

You can also get advice and connect with other Kinship Carers through:

Foster carers come from all walks of life and don’t need any specific qualifications to help make a huge difference to a young person’s life. If you are over the age of 21 with the room in your home and the time and love to give, our team want to hear from you.

North Lincolnshire Council consider each application on an individual basis, regardless of whether you are:

  • single, married, divorced or in a relationship
  • heterosexual or LGBTQ
  • disabled or able-bodied
  • in full-time or part-time employment or receiving benefits
  • have children of your own, or not
  • have previous experience of working with children, or not
  • are a homeowner or renting

We understand that fostering is a big decision which is why our expert team are on hand for support and advice about fostering and how it will fit into your life and family.

North Lincolnshire Council are recruiting foster carers for children of all ages but currently have a need for foster carers who can help support children aged 11+, sibling groups and children seeking asylum.

Foster carers must be at least 21 years old and be in good health, both physically and mentally. Fostering is demanding but also incredibly rewarding and our application process ensures that each applicant can effectively and confidently manage the pressures of fostering a young individual.

To apply please complete our online expression of interest form.

The predicted application timescale, from application to approval, is around six months. However, if you are an existing foster carer within an agency or another local authority wishing to transfer to North Lincolnshire Council, our team will be able to fast track your application.

Stage One

  • Complete our online expression of interest form
  • A phone call with a member of our expert fostering team, made within five working days, to provide further information
  • An allocated assessment worker will make an initial home visit, ideally arranged within seven working days
  • Your allocated assessment worker will undertake a thorough assessment of the household whilst providing ongoing support and advice. This will typically be completed within four months from application
  • Statutory applicant checks. North Lincolnshire Council are legally obliged to carry out statutory checks which include DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service), medical reports, three personal references and a family member reference, and checks from current and previous local authorities
  • Additional checks will also be completed which include NSPCC, health visiting service, employer’s reference, previous partners (in discussion with each individual applicant) and interview with any children
  • Invited to attend mandatory Skills to Foster training.

Stage Two

  • Regular one-to-one support and guidance with your allocated assessment worker to complete an individual assessment report
  • Completion of the assessment report which outlines your assessment worker’s recommendation for approval. Each applicant will have the opportunity to view and add any comments to their report
  • Attendance at a fostering panel alongside your dedicated assessment worker to present the assessment report, comments and statutory checks. Following each fostering panel a recommendation will be made to the ADM (Agency Decision Maker)
  • The ADM will consider all of the information from the fostering panel and make a final decision within five working days. The final decision will be made both verbally and in writing by the assessment worker
  • Once approved you will be allocated a dedicated fostering social worker to support you throughout your fostering journey. You will also receive induction training and a foster carer’s handbook
  • Our expert fostering team will start to match you with local children based on care plans and your individual recommendation.

These are just some of the things our foster carers have told us :

  • I wasn’t ready to hang up my apron and stop being a mum
  • We find fostering very rewarding
  • Children are fascinating, funny, challenging and unique – every day they make you laugh and often amaze you
  • They are hard work but so rewarding
  • To see a first tooth or first step is a privilege and we are very fortunate
  • We take a great pride in improving their lives and giving them a better start in life
  • When the child is doing great you feel a great sense of achievement
  • When children you have in care start making plans for the future, you know they’re comfortable and confident enough to not just think of surviving the here and now, but are looking forward and making plans. They have dreams. I always smile when they do that
  • When you get a child to feel a sense of pride in themselves
  • When a little one puts their arm round you and snuggles into your neck
  • Just to watch them thrive and overcome their obstacles.

Could you be a forever family for Olivia and Ellie?

Graphic of 2 girls styling their hair in their bedroom

We are teenage sisters aged 13 and 14 years old and we have been in foster care for almost two years. We have two other siblings who we don’t live with. Our mum and siblings are very important to us, but we can’t all live together anymore. As a result, we sometimes struggle with our emotions so need lots of support and care to help us feel ok.

All about Olivia

Olivia struggles at school so needs support with this. She loves doing make up and has very long hair which people often compliment her on. Olivia likes to spend time with her friends. Her favourite food is pepperoni pizza.

All about Ellie

Ellie is good at baking and loves doing make up, especially eyelashes. People say is she a polite girl, but is confident to stand up for what she believes in. She can be a picky eater but likes pizza, pasta and Sunday dinners. Ellie enjoys spending time on her phone and watching videos on Tik Tok.

If you could offer Olivia and Ellie a forever home; email fostering@northlincs.gov.uk or call the Fostering Team on 01724 297024.

Please note: Olivia and Ellie are not real names.

Could you be a forever family for Jacob?

Boy making a sandcastle on the beach

All about Jacob

I am six years old and I have been in foster care for six months. I need a forever family as it’s not safe for me to live at home anymore. My family are still very important to me.

I have lots of energy so need a family who can have fun with me and keep me busy. I struggle to know what is right and wrong sometimes, so I need carers who are understanding and there to support me.

I need carers who can give me their time and attention 1:1. It can take me time to get used to new people and change so you will need to be patient with me, but when I know you and feel secure I will settle.

I have professionals involved to help me to understand how I feel and my life journey and they will be there to support you too.

If you could offer Jacob a forever home; email fostering@northlincs.gov.uk or call the Fostering Team on 01724 297024.

Please note: Jacob is not his real name.

News stories

Support and guidance

Our Fostering Friendly Scheme encourages employers to support and recognise the roles of their employees who foster and helps to support the wider community.

Members of the scheme can support in a variety of ways including raising awareness in the community, offering discounts for foster carers or agreeing to put in place a fostering friendly HR policy for all foster carers in their employment.

Find out more on our Fostering Friendly webpage.

We strongly believe that having a local support community goes a long way in helping you to successfully foster. You will have access to:

  • Support and supervision from a dedicated social worker
  • Regular foster carer meetings, coffee mornings and support groups
  • A buddy scheme with an experienced foster carer
  • Weekly information updates to keep you in touch with fostering news
  • Fostering Network membership offering magazines, independent support and discounts
  • Access to an extended out of hours support team on an evening, night or weekend

We offer our foster carers a comprehensive training package each year that includes a range of courses from specific mandatory training to additional tailored modules, that help enhance knowledge, skills and confidence within the role. In addition, children of foster carers can also receive specific training to help adjust and understand fostering further, along with the opportunity to join the social support group CAJU (Come and Join Us).

All foster carers are required to complete the mandatory Training Support and Development (TSD) portfolio and attend specific mandatory training courses within the first nine months of approval. This is discussed in detail throughout the assessment process.

To thank and celebrate our foster carers for all the hard work they do, we offer:

  • a generous weekly allowance which does not affect any state benefits you may be receiving
  • reward days, social activities and trips for the whole family – For example, this currently includes an annual summer fun day, trip to Flamingo Land and a Christmas pantomime for the whole household
  • interest free loans to purchase a new or bigger vehicle for the household. To take advantage of an interest-free loan foster carers must have a full driving licence, intend to continue to foster for the council for the full period of the loan and have children within the household at the time of the loan or within three months of application.

Apply for the foster carer car loan below:

North Lincolnshire Council works closely with tourist attractions and local businesses to offer a variety of free and discounted passes and entry. The list below is ongoing and includes discounts for both fostering households and care leavers. Please continue to check in regularly for updates.

Discounts for fostering households

  • Flexible VIB passes at Gravity Trampoline Park Hull for just £11.95 per month. This pass can be transferred to any child in your care and gives you one hourly session per day, every day. Find out more by visiting the Gravity UK website. Gravity also offers work experience and interview opportunities for children in care and care leavers
  • £3 entry for all you can bounce sessions at Air Kings Trampoline Park in Scunthorpe
  • Discounted entry to Messingham Zoo
  • 15% off entry to Sandtoft Trolley Bus Museum. Work experience opportunities are also available for children in care and care leavers
  • A Max Card which allows foster families discounted or free admission to a number of venues nationwide. Visit the My Max Card website for more information
  • NL Active are offering a specific Max card offer which includes:
    • Free swimming in casual and FunSplash swim sessions for the Max Card holder, and a £1 swim for an accompanying person
    • Half price family swim (2 adults and up to 3 children, the Max card holder needs to be present)
    • To redeem the offer the customer needs to present the Max Card at the reception desk when they visit.

Discounts for care leavers

  • Active Lifestyles (NL Active) offer a referral membership scheme which allows young adults aged 16 to 20 a complementary package for an initial 12 month period that is valid at all leisure venues within North Lincolnshire. This includes access to swimming sessions, squash and badminton courts and activity bookings. Please contact the young person’s personal assistant to access this offer.
  • Normanby Hall and Country Park are offering care leavers discounted park memberships. Care leavers aged 16 to 20 can receive a complementary Standard Dual Park Membership, whilst care leavers aged 21 to 25 can receive a 50% discount. To access this offer please contact Rachel.cottingham@northlincs.gov.uk

Our policies and procedures

Our Family and Friends policy [PDF, 369Kb] sets out our approach to ensuring that children are well cared for in family and friends arrangements.

Our North Lincolnshire Statement of Purpose for Fostering-2023-2024 [PDF, 1.12Mb] explains what the Fostering Service does and the rules that it has to follow.

We have also produced a Young person’s version of the Fostering Statement of Purpose [PDF, 757Kb].

Our Private Fostering Procedures [PDF, 200Kb] set out our:

  • general policies
  • duties
  • standards
  • timescales, and
  • steps to be taken

We are committed to preventing social exclusion amongst care leavers. Our Staying Put procedure [PDF, 1Mb] ensures that young people can continue to live with former foster carers after their 18th birthday. They can make the transition to independent lives at a pace that suits their needs.

The Delegation of Authority policy [PDF, 394Kb] relates to the delegation of decision making about looked after children to the child’s carers.

The policy is relevant to:

  • Foster carers
  • Independent fostering providers
  • Children’s Services social workers
  • Fostering social workers
  • Independent reviewing officers
  • Residential staff
  • Independent residential units
  • Managers of case management
  • Fostering and referral management
  • Lead Cabinet Members
  • Director of Children and Community Resilience
  • Deputy Director of Children and Community Resilience
  • Commissioning Officer for Looked After Children

Additional information about fostering

We welcome enquiries from existing foster carers who are registered with independent agencies or other local authorities.

You’re a private foster carer if both the following apply:

  • you’re not a close relative, ie grandparent, brother or sister, uncle or aunt or step-parent
  • you’re looking after a child who’s under 16 (under 18 if they’re disabled) for more than 28 days in a row

You must tell us about this arrangement by contacting us on 01724 296500.

What to expect

A social worker will visit you and the child to make sure the child is safe and being properly cared for.

The social worker will do background checks on you. They can also offer help and support.

You must tell us if you’re a parent and you’ve asked someone who isn’t a close relative to look after your child.

The British Association for Adoption and Fostering has lots of resources and information on private fostering.

It is an offence not to notify North Lincolnshire Council of a private fostering arrangement. Failure to inform the council may result in legal proceedings taking place.

Examples of private fostering arrangements

Private fostering situations can include:

  • Children or young people who are sent to this country for education or health care by their birth parents from overseas
  • Teenagers living with a friend’s family because they do not get on with their own family
  • Children living with a friend’s family because their parents’ study or work involves unsociable hours, which makes it difficult to use ordinary day care or after school care
  • Children staying with another family because their parents have divorced or separated, are hospitalised or imprisoned
  • A child from overseas staying with a host family while attending school, or overseas students at boarding school who stay with a host family during the holidays

Stop – are you looking after someone else’s child?

Think – will they be staying for more than 28 days?

Act – inform North Lincolnshire Council – Single Point of Contact immediately on 01724 296500.

All foster carers must be registered with HMRC. For tax purposes only, foster carers are treated as ‘self employed’.

For most carers, their total received from fostering is below the tax threshold and they will not have to pay any tax.

More information can be provided to you by the fostering team.

For further information please visit the government ‘Tax arrangements’ page.

Supported Lodgings

The supported lodgings scheme is designed to provide a stepping-stone for young people aged 16 to 24, on their route to independence. Space to spare and time to care? Become a Supported Lodgings host in North Lincolnshire. Find out more on our Supported Lodgings page.

North Lincolnshire Council are recognised as a fostering friendly employer.

Contact

fostering@northlincs.gov.uk
01724 297000