FOSTERING

Why opt for Pathways?

We understand the challenge of distinguishing between fostering agencies, as they often present similar commitments. Nonetheless, we firmly believe that the true essence of "making a difference" is rooted in the finer points.

Your Responsibility

Each child is unique and requires care, guidance, and nurturing, above all else, a place they can call home. Our foster carers at Pathways come from diverse backgrounds, yet they all share unwavering principles that meet these necessities.

Types of Fostering

We offer different types of fostering, from short term to long term placements, respite placements and specialist placements.

Support

Fostering sits at the heart of Pathways. It is a service we use to build a firm foundation for children. Within this service and over time we will built an extraordinary range of children's services around it. All that knowledge and support is available to Pathways foster carers.

Pay

We treat our foster carers as professionals and therefore pay our carers an allowance for their skills, commitment and care. Pathways ensures the highest levels of allowances are paid and reviews these payments regularly.

Our Path to Fostering

Your initial enquiry and vetting, we will organise a home visit where a member of our team will discuss fostering with you in more detail and answer any questions you have.

Assessing Social Worker

Once you have completed an application form, you will be allocated an Assessing Social Worker to support you every step of the way through the assessment process.

Skills to Foster Weekend

Our assessment process will include a Skills to Foster weekend where you will have the opportunity to talk with our existing carers, learn in detail about fostering and the fantastic support provided by us.

Assessment Portfolio

As your application is progressing, you and your Social Worker will complete an assessment and portfolio of your skills and experience to present to Pathways Fostering Panel. This process can take between 2-4 months.

Fostering Panel

Pathways Fostering Panel will review your completed assessment portfolio and will want to ask you a few questions to get to know you before approving your application. Once approved, you officially join the Pathways team as an approved Foster Carer