OUR APPROACH
Recruitment and retention are inseparable. Foster carers are more likely to stay when they feel prepared, valued, culturally understood and supported beyond approval.
Black Foster Carers Alliance partners with fostering services to build end-to-end recruitment and retention infrastructure — combining culturally informed recruitment, assessment support, mentoring and early-stage intervention to reduce breakdowns and prevent avoidable attrition.
Our model strengthens:
Safeguarding
Assessment quality
Carer confidence
Placement stability
long-term retention
From first enquiry to sustained, confident care
Black Foster Carers Alliance provides end-to-end recruitment and retention support designed to prepare foster carers properly and help them stay. Our pathway combines culturally informed recruitment, assessment support, mentoring and early-stage intervention to strengthen safeguarding, improve practice and reduce avoidable breakdowns.
We begin with community-led recruitment that builds trust, improves engagement and reduces early drop-off. Applicants are supported early to understand the fostering system, expectations and assessment process, helping to reduce withdrawals and delays. Where suitable, we support applicants through the Form F assessment with preparation, reflection and confidence-building, improving assessment quality and fairness.
At the mid-point of assessment, we review progress, identify pressure points and allocate a trained mentor. Mentoring supports emotional readiness, understanding of the role and preparation for panel. Following approval, carers receive ongoing mentoring over six months to support transition into practice, build resilience and strengthen relationships with fostering services. Optional post-approval workshops provide additional support focused on confidence, connection and long-term sustainability.
From first enquiry to sustained, confident care
Black Foster Carers Alliance provides end-to-end recruitment and retention support designed to prepare foster carers properly and help them stay. Our pathway combines culturally informed recruitment, assessment support, mentoring and early-stage intervention to strengthen safeguarding, improve practice and reduce avoidable breakdowns.
We begin with community-led recruitment that builds trust, improves engagement and reduces early drop-off. Applicants are supported early to understand the fostering system, expectations and assessment process, helping to reduce withdrawals and delays. Where suitable, we support applicants through the Form F assessment with preparation, reflection and confidence-building, improving assessment quality and fairness.
Supporting carers through their first six months
To help carers navigate the realities of fostering, we offer six optional workshops addressing the challenges most likely to impact confidence and retention:
Record Keeping & Professional Accountability – building confidence in recording, safeguarding and evidence
Understanding the Matching Process – supporting informed decision-making and realistic expectations
Respite, Boundaries & Sustainability – preventing burnout and supporting family wellbeing
Attending Professional Meetings with Confidence – preparing carers to engage effectively in reviews and meetings
Advocacy, Education & Speaking Up – supporting carers to advocate for children constructively
Managing Relationships & Conflict – equipping carers to manage difficult conversations and seek support early
These workshops reduce stress, prevent conflict and support stable placements.
Our approach addresses the root causes of foster carer attrition by strengthening preparation, support and cultural understanding. It improves assessment quality without compromising standards, embeds safeguarding and cultural intelligence into everyday practice, and supports carers to feel confident, valued and equipped to continue.
This is not an add-on service — it is a structured, preventative approach to recruitment, retention and system improvement.
If you are seeking to improve recruitment, reduce early attrition and build a fostering service carers trust, we would welcome a conversation.