At The Acorns

03/04/2026

𝐂𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 🐰

02/04/2026

𝗜 𝗔𝗠 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗕𝗨𝗧 𝗔𝗠 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 '𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗠 𝗙' !!!

Today we are going to give our followers a better appreciation of Form F. This is required under UK fostering regulations and is presented to a fostering panel.

👉A Form F is a detailed assessment document completed by a social worker during your fostering application.

👉 Think of it as A full profile of you, your life, and your suitability to care for children

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧'𝗦 𝗜𝗡𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗗𝗘𝗗?

👤 Personal background

Your upbringing, family, and relationships
Past experiences (including difficult ones)

🏠 Current situation

-Your home environment
-Who lives with you
-Your support network

💼 Employment & finances

-Job history
-Financial stability

❤️ Relationships

-Partner (if applicable)
-Parenting style and experience

👶 Experience with children

-Your skills caring for children
-Understanding of trauma, safeguarding, etc.

🧠 Health & lifestyle

-Physical and mental health
-Lifestyle choices

🔍 Checks

DBS (criminal record check)
References (friends, employers, ex-partners sometimes)

𝗠𝗬 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗠 𝗜𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗧𝗘 - 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗦 𝗡𝗘𝗫𝗧?

Once complete, Your social worker finishes the Form F. It then goes to a fostering panel and the
panel makes a recommendation.

The fostering agency or local authority makes the final decision.

𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗚 𝗗𝗢𝗘𝗦 𝗜𝗧 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘?

Typically part of the Stage 2 assessment
takes 3–4 months

Remember that it’s a holistic assessment.

Social workers are looking for:

✅️Honesty
✅️Self-awareness
✅️Ability to support vulnerable children

𝗜𝗡 𝗦𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗟𝗘 𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗠𝗦, 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗠 𝗙 𝗜𝗦 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗟 𝗙𝗢𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗙𝗜𝗟𝗘 𝗨𝗦𝗘𝗗 𝗧𝗢 𝗗𝗘𝗖𝗜𝗗𝗘 𝗜𝗙 𝗬𝗢𝗨'𝗥𝗘 𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗗 🧠

𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐈𝐅𝐀 ?

📥Drop us a DM

☎ 01325 485143

30/03/2026

𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐕𝐒 𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐅𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐘

When comparing Local Authority (LA) fostering and Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) in the UK, the differences come down to structure, support, placement types, and pay.

𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐇 𝐈𝐒 𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑 ?

👉Your choice may depend on what you value the most

👉Local Authority might be your choice if you want stability, local placements and a more community-based role

👉An IFA like us might be your choice if you want higher income, stronger support, better communication and therapeutic support

𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐈𝐅𝐀 ?

📥Drop us a DM

☎ 01325 485143

26/03/2026

𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐅𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐒 𝐁𝐄 𝐀 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐓𝐎 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐁𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀 𝐅𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐑?

Did you know that there are major policy changes that are coming into effect in a d bid to attract more foster carers to come forward?

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐒?

👉𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐫

Rules are being relaxed to remove outdated barriers and create a greater acceptance of people who:

-Work full-time

-Rent rather than own

-Are single or unmarried

👉𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 & 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬

There is currently consultations around:

-Removing or reducing fostering panel requirements

-Streamlining approvals

👉𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡

There is an ambition to create 10,000 new fostering placements. We will be helping to raise awareness and interest

👉𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 & 𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐫𝐬

New models are likely to be introduced including:

-Part-time or flexible fostering

-Support to fit fostering around jobs/family life

-Increased funding and innovation programmes

👉𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬, 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

Policies are currently being re-written. Focus is on:

-National fostering standards

-Inspection frameworks

-Greater consistency across the system

👉𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦

Reforms are focusing on:

-Low, inconsistent foster carer pay

-Profit-making in care sector

-Sector bodies calling for national fee frameworks and better financial support

Could these reforms add 𝐘𝐎𝐔 to the talent pool we have been looking for?

We want to make fostering more accessible, flexible, and visible in the hope that there will be an increase in interest and applications that we receive.

𝐉𝐎𝐈𝐍 𝐔𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐖 !!!

📥Drop us a DM

☎01325 485143

20/03/2026

𝐆𝐎𝐓 𝐀 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐅𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 ?

Here are some FAQ's that have come into us in recent months.

If you have a question about fostering, why not drop us a DM.

Here at At The Acorns we understand that people will have questions they want answering before considering whether or not to consider to become a foster carer.

If we can assist in any way, then we would love to help.

18/03/2026

𝗗𝗜𝗗 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪 ....

THIS WEEK IS WEEK ?

Today we take a look at how fostering fits into social care week and the connections that fostering and social care have.

Fostering is closely connected to social work because:

🧡Foster carers work alongside social workers to support children

💙Many fostering services are managed or overseen by social workers

🧡It plays a key role in child protection and family support

During World Social Work Day and Social Work Week, fostering is often:

💙Featured in campaigns about supporting vulnerable children

🧡Included in discussions about care systems

💙Highlighted through real-life stories from carers and young people

This week you will see organisations like the British Association of Social Workers promote fostering as part of children’s services

It would be great if you could share awareness posts about becoming a foster carer and recognise the teamwork between foster carers and social workers 🙏

15/03/2026

💙🧡 Here's to the Mums 🧡💙

Today we celebrate all the incredible women who show love, care, and strength in so many different ways.

🧡To the foster mums who open their homes and hearts.

💙To the step mums who step in with love and patience.

🧡To the not-yet mums still waiting and hoping.

💙To the mums with children at home giving daily hugs and guidance.

🧡To the solo mums doing it all with courage.

💙To the grieving mums carrying love and loss together.

🧡To the should-be mums whose hearts were ready.

And to the women who care for others like family, including those supporting children in care.

Every role matters. Every heart matters. 🧡💙

At At The Acorns, we see the difference that loving homes make every single day. Foster carers provide stability, safety and hope to children who need it most.
If you’ve ever thought about fostering, we’d love to talk to you.

📩 Message us to learn more about becoming a foster carer.

13/03/2026

𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐊 𝐓𝐎 𝐔𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐅𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐇 𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃 👋

Have you ever thought about fostering?

Are you curious about what fostering involves?

We are looking to spread the word about fostering and we would love your support to help us !!!

Do you know anywhere that would be able to accommodate our Hub Carers that will bring along with them their first hand experience of fostering, a display stand to promote our foster care services and also some information leaflets and merchandise to give out?

📍Community Centres

📍Leisure Centres

📍Libraries

📍Caravan Parks

📍Local Shops

📍Even your place of Work

Sometimes all it takes is for someone to have a chat at the right moment to change somebody's life.

If you have space to accommodate us we would be extremely grateful.

𝐋𝐄𝐓'𝐒 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊 𝐓𝐎𝐆𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐎 '𝐃𝐎 𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐁𝐋𝐄'

☎01325 485143

11/03/2026

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗗𝗢𝗪𝗡 𝗜𝗦 𝗢𝗡 ....

𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗬 𝟮 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗛𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗚𝗢 𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗟 𝗙𝗢𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 #𝗙𝗖𝗙𝟮𝟲

Foster Care Fortnight is the UK’s biggest awareness raising campaign for fostering. FCF26 will run from Monday 11 May – Sunday 24 May and the theme this year is ‘This is Fostering’, celebrating and raising awareness of the different stories across the fostering community.

The theme this year brings together three key threads

It shines a light on the everyday experiences of fostering, raising awareness of the positive impact foster carers have.

It acknowledges the pressures foster carers are facing in today’s climate – from low allowances and fees and inconsistent support, to feeling excluded from decision making about the children in their care.



It is a call to action. It gives us a collective platform to stand together as foster carers, kinship carers and the wider fostering community to call on the government for meaningful change.

Help everyone in the promote by liking, sharing and commenting on our posts 👍

09/03/2026

𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐑𝐒 / 𝐅𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐍 𝐆𝐄𝐓 𝐔𝐏 𝐓𝐎 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐖𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐆𝐄𝐓 𝐓𝐎𝐆𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐒?

Here are some of our 'MOMENTS' caught on camera 📸

👍Cooking
👍Baking
👍Educational Visits
👍History Lessons
👍Community Events

Fancy getting involved?

"𝐃𝐎 𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐁𝐋𝐄" and join our fostering family today

Drop us a DM or give us a call

☎01325 485143

08/03/2026

07/03/2026

Follow us on Facebook?

Why not follow us on our new Instagram page too 👍