Short term fostering
A safe, steady home for a few weeks, months or longer while plans are made for a child's future.
Find out more about Short term fosteringLoading page
Now recruiting foster carers across the Midlands
Central Fostering Agency UK: Every child deserves a place to belong.
Central Fostering Agency UK is a Birmingham-based fostering agency. We recruit, train and stand beside people like you who can change children's lives. Got a spare room and room in your life? Let's talk.
Led by experienced professionalswith you from first call to first placement
24/7
Advice line for approved carers
£0 to enquireNo obligation- Single or a couple
- Renters welcome
- Any background
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Working or retired
- 21 and over
Right now, children across the Midlands are waiting for a safe, steady home. You could be the reason one of them stops waiting.
24/7
Advice line for approved carers, 365 days a year
21+
Minimum age. Single, couple, renting or owning
3–5
Months, usually, from application to approval
£0
To enquire, with no obligation to go further
Start here
Find your way in.
Four quick routes to the answers most people want first. No jargon, no pressure.
Why foster with CFA
Great foster homes run on great backup.
You will never be doing this alone.
- Your own supervising social worker
- 24 hour advice line
- Carer groups and peer support
- Respite and short breaks
24/7
Support, day and night
A named social worker. Regular visits. An advice line that always picks up.
Training that grows with you
Preparation first, then ongoing courses on trauma and behaviour.
A community that gets it
Carer groups, family events and friends who understand.
Ways to foster
A few nights or a few years: you choose
Short breaks, short stays, long-term homes. Whatever you can offer, there's a fit.
Long term fostering
A stable home for a child who can't return to their birth family. Often until they're grown up.
Find out more about Long term fosteringEmergency fostering
A bed and a warm welcome at short notice, when a child needs somewhere safe tonight.
Find out more about Emergency fosteringShort breaks and respite
Regular weekends or holidays that give children and other carers a break. A good fit around work or family.
Find out more about Short breaks and respiteParent and child
A young parent and their baby, supported together as they build skills and confidence.
Find out more about Parent and childFostering teenagers
Guidance, boundaries and someone in their corner as they get ready for adult life.
Find out more about Fostering teenagersLife as a foster family
Small moments. Big difference.
Fostering is made of ordinary days: homework, laughter and a hug at the end of a hard one. Those ordinary days are what children remember.
“You don't need to be perfect. You need to be there.”
Your journey
Six clear steps, no surprises
About three to five months, start to finish. Here's the road ahead.
- 1
Day one
Get in touch
Ring us, fill in the form or ask for a call back. A friendly member of our team will talk it through. No pressure.
- 2
Within a couple of weeks
A chat and a home visit
A social worker visits to meet you and your household, explain what's involved and see whether fostering fits you and us.
- 3
From week two
Application and checks
You complete an application. We run the checks every agency must: enhanced DBS, health, employment and personal references.
- 4
Around three to five months
Training and assessment
Preparation training, plus an assessing social worker who gets to know you. Thorough, and a chance to decide if fostering is right for you.
- 5
At the end of the assessment
Fostering panel
An independent panel reviews your assessment and recommends whether you should be approved. You're invited to attend. It's welcoming, not a test.
- 6
After approval
Approval and your first placement
Once approved, we look carefully for a child who matches your skills and your home. Your supervising social worker and our out-of-hours support are with you throughout.
Our team
Meet the people behind CFA
Experienced social workers and leaders. Safe, stable homes for children across the Midlands.
Shazad
Responsible Individual & ADM
A social worker registered with Social Work England, with over 30 years of post-qualifying experience in children's social care and fostering.
Read full profile of ShazadFaiz
Registered Manager & Director
A qualified social worker with over 18 years in children's social care, including more than nine in management roles.
Read full profile of FaizHamait
Business Development Consultant
A senior leader in fostering and regulated care who advises the agency on growth, governance and compliance.
Read full profile of HamaitNot sure yet? Let's talk it through.
Leave your number and a good time to ring. We'll call, answer your questions and keep it pressure-free.
Questions
Questions we hear every week
Honest answers, in plain English.
Who can become a foster carer?
Single people, couples, renters and homeowners can all foster. You must be at least 21, have a spare bedroom, have the right to live in the UK, and have time and patience to give. Your age, gender, race, religion, sexuality and marital status do not rule you out.
Do I need to own my home?
No. Many foster carers rent. What matters is that your home is safe and stable and that the child has their own bedroom.
Do I need experience with children?
Experience helps, but it is not essential. Training and support are built into the process, and many carers find that life experience matters just as much.
Can I foster if I work?
Often yes, depending on the type of fostering and the child's needs. Some carers foster full time, while others foster part time, offer short breaks, or work flexibly. Talk to us about your situation.
Can I foster if I have children of my own?
Yes. Your own children are part of your fostering family and we will include them in the assessment and preparation. We have guidance for helping them adjust.
News and advice
Advice, answers and news
Myth busting
· 4 min read
Five fostering myths, and what is actually true
Too old, too busy, wrong kind of home? Many people rule themselves out before they ever ask.
Advice
· 3 min read
What happens at a fostering home visit?
Nervous about a social worker visiting your home? Here is what really happens, and what we are not looking for.
News
· 3 min read
Why the Midlands needs more foster carers
Children are often placed far from their schools, friends and families. Local carers change that.
Make room for a child who needs you.
Enquiring costs nothing and there's no obligation. Just a friendly chat about whether fostering could be right for you.
0333 188 6786