About us

Foster with West London is a collaborative partnership between eight local councils all working together to recruit foster carers who can provide a loving and safe home to children in care in west London.

The number of children entering our care system is rising across our region. At the same time, fewer people are coming forward to foster, or continuing to foster. Our ambition is to grow the number of fostering families who can make a difference to vulnerable children and young people in need in our communities.

We are looking for foster carers from all walks of life who can offer a safe, stable family environment for babies, children, young people and teenagers in our region. We also need carers for children and young people from diverse ethnic groups, sibling groups and for those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) or additional needs.

We know that you have a lot of questions, you might wonder if you have the skills to foster. We are here to help you make an informed choice and help you understand how you can make fostering work for you.

Together with your local authority, we are here to support you through every step of your journey in becoming a foster carer, from your initial enquiry, through to assessment and beyond.

Don’t just take our word for it. Hear from some of our foster carers.

Questions about fostering agencies

What is an independent fostering agency (IFA)?

An independent fostering agency (IFA) is an organisation that works with local authorities to provide fostering placements for children and young people who need a safe and nurturing home.

Unlike local authority fostering services, IFAs are typically private, profit making businesses or voluntary charity funded. Independent fostering agencies and local authorities both play crucial roles in providing foster care, but they operate differently.

Local authorities are the first point of contact when children need to be placed in foster care. As a result, local authority foster carers often receive more frequent placements, including short-term and emergency placements. IFA's step in when local authorities cannot find a suitable carer within their own pool, often for children with more complex needs or sibling groups.

Is Foster with West London an IFA?

No, Foster with West London is not an independent fostering agency (IFA). It is a collaborative partnership between 8 local authorities in west London.

This partnership works together to recruit, train, and support foster carers within the local community.

Start today

We would love to hear from you.

So we know who to contact, complete this short form and one of our fostering experts will be in touch as soon as we can.

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