why foster with us?

support and rewards

finance and allowances

As a foster carer with the Foster Wales Bridgend team, as well as the emotional connection and lifelong relationship you’ll gain, you’ll also receive generous financial allowances.

We calculate the amount of foster allowance based on things like the type of foster care you provide and how many children you care for.

Right now, there are some carers in Bridgend who receive foster pay of between £12,782 and £43,056 per year, based on their foster care commitments.

other rewards

Other than the emotional support and allowances, there are some other perks to being a foster carer. If you join our foster care team in Bridgend you’ll also get:

  • Support and mentoring from experienced foster carers via our Liaison Foster
    Carers scheme.
  • Specialist Foster carer schemes with increased allowances and support for
    transitional carers, parent and child and those fostering older children.
  • Free leisure membership for the foster carer and their entire household, meaning
    unlimited use of Local Authority Gyms, swimming pools and classes.
  • Regular newsletters, social activities and events for our foster families and
    children looked after as well as regular consultation opportunities for you to
    share your views.
  • A wide range of learning and development opportunities delivered in flexible
    ways including, a comprehensive e-learning package, with a dedicated full time
    training officer just for our foster carers.

the foster wales national commitment

And the list continues as every local authority in Wales has signed up to our National Commitment. This is an agreed package of training, rewards and ongoing professional support which our team at Foster Wales Bridgend offers too.

We take all our foster care training very seriously, and if you choose to join our team and become a foster carer in Bridgend, you can expect to benefit from:

Two boys throwing a ball to each other

one team

Our own experience tells us when we work as one team to help create a better future for the children in our area, we succeed. Your foster care training in Bridgend will be extensive and second to none, preparing you for your journey.

You’ll become an integral part of our local team and your voice will always be respected, included and valued.

Becoming part of our team in Bridgend means you’re joining forces with those who are ultimately responsible for every young person and child who needs foster care here. You’ll be helping to keep them in their local area, and making a real difference to their everyday lives.

Mum and two children sitting at a table

learning and development

Your ongoing development and training is important to us and here at Foster Wales, our framework for training is a consistent and proven package. We know how much learning and growth is a part of the fostering experience and we actively encourage it at every point.

We’ll supply the right tools and training to build up your confidence and capabilities, and in turn ensure you meet the needs of the children or young adults you care for.

Becoming a foster carer with Foster Wales means you’ll also have your own development plan and individual personal learning record which will help you keep track of your own progress as well as developing the strong skills you already possessed at the start of your journey.

Two brothers making a sandcastle on the beach

support

Offering ongoing support is an essential part of our work here at Foster Wales and you’ll never be without it. We’re here to help, every step of the way.

As well as your own professional and experienced social worker on hand to help, you’ll have access to a whole range of support groups. We’ve found that this level of peer support makes a world of difference.

Our team at Foster Wales Bridgend are also always on hand whenever you need us, even outside office hours. We know that fostering is 24/7, and our support is too.

Mam a merch yn eistedd ar y gwair

fostering community

We’ll make sure you’re well connected throughout your journey as a foster carer, with our team as well as a whole new community of foster carers in Bridgend.

Joining Foster Wales Bridgend means you’ll automatically receive a paid membership to The Fostering Network (TFN) and The Association for Fostering and Adoption (AFA) Cymru. We believe these specialist fostering organisations offer the right kind of advice, support, guidance and a whole range of other perks.

As if this wasn’t enough, we’ll also invite you to activities and events in the local area, introducing you to other foster families. This will help you create new memories and experiences.

Family playing in the sand on the beach

shaping the future

Here at Foster Wales Bridgend, we believe that the most important focus for every child in our care is their future. Our role, and your role as a dedicated foster carer, is to help shape it into something wonderful.

We recognise how important the part you play is. Because of that, we make sure your voice will always be heard. Not just on a local and regional level, but we’ll also take your views to a national level too, and you’ll help impact how we move forward as a whole.

Family walking away from the camera on the beach

take the first step

contact our dedicated team today

  • Bridgend Council is the data controller for the personal information you provide on this form. Your information will be used in the exercise of our official authority and will not be used for any other purpose. We will not share your data with third parties unless we are required or permitted to do so by law. Data protection law describes the legal basis for our processing your data as necessary for the performance of a public task. For further information about how Bridgend Council uses your personal data, including your rights as a data subject, please see our privacy notice.