Evolve is a leading, therapeutic and family led agency that is supporting foster carers locally in Barking and Dagenham. When you are approved and join a fostering agency, the agency being local to you as foster carers is really beneficial for many reasons that are summarised below. Please do Download a Guide to Fostering to find out more and any other questions you may have on your fostering journey.

Training that is local and easy to attend

When training is held in person, it is important that this is near to you, and there is not too much travel time for you from your home in Barking and Dagenham. Training can be delivered through virtual delivery or online also but being together is helpful for several courses where the topic is easier to talk through.

Support from your Social Worker

It is important that your social worker is there for you and can visit regularly and when needed in an emergency or when you just need to see that person to talk things through. We have local social workers in Barking and Dagenham to support your fostering needs.

Placements and referrals

Your fostering agency will receive referrals from the local authorities that they work with. It is important that your fostering agency has good links and partnership working with Barking and Dagenham because this is your home local authority for fostering.  The local authority, Barking and Dagenham, will aim to place children and young persons close to their school or college (if this is in their best interests) and usually aim for within 20 miles of their birth home. This allows for continuity for the young person with their education and can allow contact with their birth parents. These are all important considerations at the matching stage and we have a skilled social worker focused on receiving referrals and discussing these with foster carers directly.

Evolve Therapeutic Fostering works closely with Barking and Dagenham and we receive a positive level of referrals to match these for you following your approval as foster carers. We also receive referrals from local authorities across the South East and London. Our therapeutic support helps enhance the support for foster carers and potential matches.

Events and activities

We look to hold events and activities that are local to our foster carers including covering Barking and Dagenham area. The agency location is again relevant for travel time and ease of attending. It is helpful to spend time with other foster carers to share experiences on fostering and supporting children and young persons. If your agency has other carers local to you in Barking and Dagenham, that will be beneficial. We have foster carers in Barking and Dagenham and are currently recruiting other families.

Your fostering application process to approval

When you apply to be a foster carer, our local team in Barking and Dagenham will visit you and again you would prefer an agency that is nearby. We have dedicated social workers focused on your assessment process where you will have several visits to talk through your fostering application, family experiences, preferences and cover everything involved in fostering. When your assessment is completed, you will attend panel for your approval. 

If you are worried about anything about your fostering application process, please ask us!

The assessment process also includes “Skills to Foster” training held locally.

Breaks from fostering (respite)

When you would like a break from the commitment of fostering, it is important and helpful if you have local foster carers nearby to you in Barking and Dagenham. This can help a respite placement be organised for your current child or young person with you. This is with practical considerations on travel and attending school or college for the young person in Barking and Dagenham area.