Supported Fostering Services (SFS) is a registered fostering charity established for 25 years, and a top tier partner with local authorities in Wales.
Our purpose
As a charity, our entire purpose is to achieve the best possible outcomes for children and young people in care. That means all surplus funds are reinvested to meet these objectives. This way children are put first and foremost in decision making.
Our fostering team
Our team of experienced, qualified social workers recruit, train and support foster carers across South Wales, from our office in Cardiff. We operate 24-hour support for foster carers, so you are never alone.
‘There is an experienced and longstanding staff team and foster carers told us that a particular strength of the agency was that all staff and managers were dedicated to providing them high quality support to fulfil their roles.’ (Latest CIW inspection)
Fostering recruitment
As a leading fostering provider, we have high demand from local authorities searching for foster homes. We run a rolling recruitment program for people new to fostering. This includes lots of advice, training and support to ensure people are fully prepared to meet the challenge of fostering and the reward of helping children.
We are often approached by existing foster carers who want to transfer for the high levels of support we offer. As a result we have a fast-track recruitment process for experienced foster carers.
Extra support
Sometimes children need extra support to help them come to terms with their early life experience. As a charity we fund and provide fast-track access to extra services for children including therapy.
‘We found that children achieved positive well–being outcomes; that many continued to live with their carers after the age of 18 and many more remained in touch with their carers and the agency. Placement stability and sustainability was good as well as educational attainment and access to specialist therapeutic advice and support was a significant strength of the service.’ (Latest CIW inspection)
Matching
We recognise the importance of matching the right child with the right foster family. In other words, making the best match gives the placement the highest likelihood of working well and achieving the best outcomes for the child.
‘We were provided very positive feedback from a group of foster carers about the effort made to ‘match’ children with foster carers with the skills and experience to meet their needs. They told us that information from local authorities was ‘not always great’ but the agency’s social workers always sought any additional information to ensure children’s needs were known and that they could be provided for.’
Children live in placements that promote their well–being and lead active and fulfilling lives. (Latest CIW inspection)
Training
Our Foster Carers Training Programme runs annually with a variety of topics covering different aspects of fostering. Individual Personal Development Plans are agreed between foster carers and their Supervising Social Workers. In addition to in-house fostering training we use a range of external experts and consultants to offer specialist insight and experience.
Next steps
Statement of Purpose
Download the SFS Wales Statement of Purpose