Fostering
Get in touch on 0191 423 8500
Have you ever thought about becoming a foster carer? Give us a call for a friendly and informal chat. We are always happy to talk and meet with people who have an interest in foster caring.
Or you can enquire online, and one of the team will get in touch with you.
There's no such thing as a typical foster carer
Foster carers can be single or married, same sex, employed or unemployed, a home owner or living in rented accommodation. Foster carers are as different as the children they care for.
We want to help our foster carers be the best carers possible and to give South Tyneside's children the best start in life.
We need foster carers for:
Mother and baby
Could you support a young mother and her baby? Care for Mum and baby offering guidance in the care of the baby.
Older children
Could you offer a home to older children, giving them security, care and guidance?
Sibling groups
Do you have 2 or more spare rooms? Could you look after a sibling group and keep families together?
Long term fostering
Are you able to help a child for many years? Perhaps for the whole of their childhood and beyond?
Who can foster?
Foster carers in South Tyneside come from all walks of life. We don't think there is such a thing as a typical foster carer.
Who can foster?Steps to fostering
Find out about the process of becoming a foster carer with South Tyneside Council.
Steps to fosteringHow much would I get paid?
We now offer ‘Payment for Skills’ where the more experience and qualifications carers gain, the more they will be paid.
How much would I get paid?Information evenings
We hold Information Evenings on the last Thursday of every month. This is a great opportunity to find out more about fostering.
Information eveningsFostering stories
Find out what fostering with South Tyneside Council is like from our carers and children.
Fostering storiesFrequently asked questions
Check out our frequently asked questions about becoming a foster parent.
FAQsPrivate fostering
Are you looking after some else's child? Private fostering is when a child is living and being cared for by someone who is not a close relative or parent.
Private fosteringLong-term fostering
Many children across the UK live with their foster families for many years, and sometimes for the whole of their childhood and beyond.
Long-term fosteringWhy foster with South Tyneside Council?
Our network of support includes access to psychologists, nursing, schools and a specialist Project for Looked After Children's Education (PLACE) team, which provides individual support in learning, education and behaviour.
We also work closely with colleagues and agencies inside and outside of South Tyneside to support Looked After Children.
Our Ofsted rating - Good
South Tyneside Council's Children's Services were recently ranked as one of the best in the country after being rated "good" for the services we provide to children, young people and families.
Children become looked after when they need to be so. Outcomes relating to children's health and education are good.
Effective matching is supporting placement stability well and this is good. Independent reviewing officers (IROs) offer effective oversight, review and challenge of children's cases, and this is leading to timely permanence.
Foster carers are well trained and supported to meet children's needs, although not all carers are provided with timely delegated authority to make day-to-day decisions for the children they care for. The local authority has recently taken action to improve oversight of this service, and this includes improving the timeliness of foster carer reviews.
View the full report: Ofsted: South Tyneside