Evolve is a leading therapeutic fostering agency that is based locally in Brighton. When you are approved and join a fostering agency, the agency being local to you as a foster carer is important for several reasons that we have looked to cover for you below. Please ask us any questions about being local and we can share a Guide for Fostering.
Social worker support
It is important that your dedicated 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 Brighton to support your fostering needs. This can also be important for out of hours contact.
Local training
When training is held together in person, it is important that this is local to you, and there is not too much travel time for you from your home in Brighton or the local area. Training can be delivered through online formats and virtually also but being together is beneficial for key courses.
Placements and referrals
Your fostering agency will receive referrals from key local authorities that they work with and partner. It is really beneficial that your foster care agency has good links and partnership working with Brighton because this is your home local authority for fostering. Brighton’s children’s team 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 with 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 dedicated manager focused on receiving referrals and discussing these with foster carers.
Evolve Therapeutic Fostering works closely with Brighton and we receive a strong 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 model helps enhance the one to one support for foster carers and potential matches.
Local events and activities for children or young persons
We look to hold events and activities that are local to our foster carers including in the Brighton area. The fostering agency location is again relevant for travel time and practical considerations. 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 Brighton, that will be beneficial. We have foster carers in Brighton and are currently recruiting our families.
Your fostering assessment and panel process
When you apply to be a foster carer, our local team in Brighton will visit you and again you want an agency that is local to you. 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 concerned about anything to do with your fostering application process, please ask us!
The assessment process also includes “Skills to Foster” training held locally for foster carers.
Respite breaks
When you would like a break, it is important and helpful if you have local foster carers nearby to you in Brighton. 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 child or young person in the Brighton area.
