UK not-for-profit fostering charity

Providing the highest quality care & support for foster families in the UK since 1945.

children huddled

Providing stability | Therapeutic support | Outstanding financial packages for our carers and children

The Children’s Family Trust

UK Not-for-Profit Fostering Charity

The Children’s Family Trust (CFT) has provided the highest quality care and support for foster families in the UK since 1945. We look out for the welfare of vulnerable children and young people to ensure they are kept safe and placed in loving, stable foster homes. Our independent foster agency offers ongoing training and support for foster parents across communities England. 

Can you provide a loving & secure home for a foster child to reach their potential?

Do you have what it takes to make a foster child part of your family? We’re here to debunk myths and communicate how fostering young people can change your life for the better!

When you join The CFT, you join a whole family.

If you are thinking about fostering with The Children’s Family Trust, a great way to start is signing up for our informal information sessions, attending an open day or coming along to an event we’re attending.

Using the buttons below to keep up to date with The CFT on the go!

Open Day's

Keep your eyes peeled for  more dates!

Ever thought about fostering but didn’t know where to start? Our informal open days are a great place to get to know the team, the process and chat with our experienced carers. Come have a cuppa & start your journey, join The Children’s Family Trust.

 

Events near you.

 

We attend events across the country, whether that’s supporting a local funrun, pride event or country fayre. If you’re looking to find us in your area, click the link below and follow us on facebook where you’ll be the first to know what events our team’s are attending.

Online information sessions

Prefer to learn and explore fostering in your own space? Online sessions are an opportunity to get to grips with everything fostering before you make an enquiry. No two agencies or fostering careers are alike, so it’s really important to explore what’s important to you, whenever suit’s you.

Transfer to a fostering charity that goes beyond the call of duty!

Fostering with a UK charity means constant reinvestment in our support groups and services to enhance the lives of our foster carers and the children under our wing. Our outstanding financial packages for carers and children, one-on-one therapeutic and educational support, and recognition of birth families make us stand out from the pack. Our independent foster agency’s creed is “Family for Life,” and we are dedicated to providing stability and reliability for vulnerable children in need. We champion being transparent and including the child or young person in the fostering process and what they can expect. 

Local Authorities

When you foster a child, legal responsibility remains with the child’s birth family or the local authority. This is one of the ways fostering differs from adopting a child. The CFT provides various types of foster placements that often extend into adulthood, and as a charity, we are committed to constant development in the services we offer. We set the bar high for our carers, so we can assure professional and quality fostering placements. Our training and support groups are continuously evolving to ensure our foster carers are given the tools they need for success. 

A people and family happy teen boy with mother at home
happy kid

Support us & our mission

Even if you are not in a position to foster children and young people in your home, you can still help support our mission. To maintain the highest standards of care, The CFT relies on the support of local communities to fundraise and make charitable donations. Are you interested in making a difference?  

Meet our families

Each of our foster families is unique and has an outlook on fostering children that makes them special. Get to know each of them and how you can follow in their footsteps.  

Our regions

Find your local office!

South Central 

East Midlands 

West Midlands 

West Yorkshire 

North East 

Fostering in part-time work

Maintaining your work/life balance is imperative to being a successful foster carer with stickability! We appreciate being a foster parent requires a lot of flexibility so that you can provide a stable and loving home for your child or young person. However, that does not mean you cannot continue to pursue work and be a successful foster carer. Learn more about the fostering process and what you can expect. 

Is fostering right for you? Request more info today!

Is fostering right for you? If you are ready to begin your fostering journey with The Children’s Family Trust, please talk to our team about any questions or concerns. We are always looking for more caring, resilient individuals to join us as foster carers across England. Because this is a life-changing decision, it should not be taken lightly. No enquiry is a committment – we welcome anyone who has a passion for supporting young people! 

Your interview - What you need to know.
If you’ve been invited to an interview, it’s your chance to meet us, tell us about yourself, and take a step towards building your incredible career.
Your interview is your opportunity to learn more about us.
So come prepared with your questions. Plus its our opportunity to get to know you, understand your motivation to work in this sector and get a good understanding of your experience and background.
The first step.
Is either a face to face interview carried out in person or via TEAMS. If you’re successful, the next stage is a more formal interview with at least two members of our team. At least one of the interview panel will have been trained in the NSPCC safer recruitment standards.
You might be invited for a second interview.
Or we might ask you to prepare a presentation or other sample of work. Think about what the role requires and prepare to show you’re a great fit.
We’ll carry out a criminal record check.
Bring the necessary identity documents to your formal interview. The address on the documents should match the address on your application form. You’ll need proof of your right to work in the UK, you will be provided with a list of approved identification documents in line with The Disclosure and Barring Service and proof of your address.
Certificates!
Remember to bring any qualification certificates that are required for the role.
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Be a successful candidate!
Read through our hints and tips and give yourself the best chance at a career with The CFT.
Do your research!
Look at our website and check that you match our outlook and culture.
Apply via our application form.
We require a fully completed application form, we’ll ask for your full employment history from age 16, include all job titles, employment dates and your reason for leaving – and if there are any gaps, please tell us why.
We’ll need contact details of referees.
Referee's should be people you’ve worked with during the last three years. One should be your most recent employer. We’ll also need a reference from any employer where you’ve worked directly with children and young people and a personal referee.
We’ll carry out a criminal record check.
If you’ve lived abroad within the last ten years, you might also be asked to complete an overseas criminal record check.
If your application is successful.
There may be some more pre-employment checks specific to the role, but a member of our HR Team will be in touch to talk you through what’s needed.
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