Foster Care agency celebrates 'Outstanding' Ofsted

Local fostering agency Anchor Foster Care celebrated receiving an Outstanding rating from Ofsted at an Appreciation Afternoon Tea event held in Milton Keynes during Foster Care Fortnight.

In the last year, Anchor has seen demand rise for fostering homes capable of supporting families with special requirements such as emergency fostering, joint placements for parents and children or care for children with disabilities or complex needs.

One of the most critical areas of demand in the Three Counties is Parent and Child fostering. This role involves a foster home taking in both a parent, often a mother, and their baby or young child to provide guidance, coaching and support, with the ultimate goal of keeping the family together safely.

Nationwide there are approximately 80,000 children living with foster parents and 70,000 approved foster families, but fewer than one in five places are vacant at any one time (Ofsted). Many of these places are unable to support specialist cases, placing extreme pressure on an over-burdened health and social care system and causing distress and uncertainty for vulnerable children.

Farayi Chinyemba, Managing Director of Anchor Foster Care, says: “We are incredibly proud of our foster parents, and this Afternoon Tea is just one way to show our gratitude. This event was a vital opportunity to thank our families across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire but also serves a much larger purpose.

“Parent and child foster placements are so important. Not only do they keep families together and in the area they know but they share valuable parenting advice helping the mother or father to develop confidence and skills they need to parent independently. As we face rising demand for emergency placements, support for children with complex needs and sibling or parent and child placements, we know that hearing a real story from a fellow foster parent is often the catalyst that encourages someone to register. By bringing our community together, we aren't just celebrating past successes, we are inviting others to see the profound impact they could have and the support our fostering families receive.”

Supporting Parent & Child placements in Bedfordshire: Maria's story

Maria is an experienced foster carer who lives in Luton with her birth son and has been providing care since 2022. She has provided four parent and child placements and six placements for children and young people, demonstrating strong capability in managing a wide range of needs. Maria brings extensive experience in supporting children and families with complex needs. She frequently offers parent and child placements, supporting parents to develop safe and effective parenting skills while caring for their child.

Maria says: “I have supported young people experiencing mental health challenges, autism and developmental delays, emotional and behavioural challenges as well as trauma from exposure to domestic abuse and substance misuse. This experience helps me to offer a stable and nurturing home where children and parents can feel safe and supported. Working closely with professionals, together we can build resilience, develop parenting skills, and improve outcomes for children, particularly those with more complex emotional or developmental needs.”