Abacus Fostering
Birmingham · Independent Fostering AgencyLocally run
Ofsted: GoodAbacus Fostering is an Ofsted-registered fostering service based at Birmingham.
What sets Abacus Fostering apart
Abacus is an independent, Birmingham-based fostering agency that has been Ofsted-registered since 2013. It's a small, locally-run service — the kind of agency where the registered manager knows every carer and child by name, rather than a regional office of a national chain.
The team's stated core values are fairness, openness, honesty and accountability, and they recruit carers from a wide range of cultural, religious and family backgrounds to reflect the children they care for across the Midlands.
www.abacusfostering.co.uk20
Approved fostering households
38
Children currently placed with Abacus carers
Support at a glance
Monthly supervision visits to nurture and develop your professional role as a foster carer.
Out-of-hours advice line so you're never left handling a crisis on your own.
A 4-day pre-approval training course that runs alongside your assessment and meets current national guidance.
Regular peer groups so you can meet other Abacus carers and share what's working.
CPD shaped around the children you care for — including trauma, attachment and behaviour.
Agency activity days and events for foster children and birth children alike.
Types of fostering offered
Abacus supports a full range of fostering arrangements including short-term, long-term, respite, emergency, parent-and-child, sibling groups and therapeutic placements — covering most of the West and East Midlands.
Allowances
From £400/week per child. Final figures depend on the age and needs of the child, your skill level, and whether siblings are placed together. Contact Abacus directly for an up-to-date breakdown.
What Ofsted say
All three judgement areas were rated Good at the most recent inspection (20–24 January 2025) — overall experiences and progress of children, how well children are helped and protected, and the effectiveness of leaders and managers.
Inspectors highlighted long, settled placements (over half of children live with siblings), strong safeguarding practice and a child-focused registered manager. No enforcement action has been taken since the previous inspection.
Ofsted inspection quotes
"Children have warm and nurturing relationships with their foster carers. Many of the children have lived with their foster carers for a significant period and feel part of their fostering families."
"Foster carers have a clear understanding of children's risks and behaviours, and they are effective in keeping children safe. Children said they feel safe living with their foster families."
"There is a suitably experienced and qualified registered manager in post. They are child-focused and are committed to providing children with the best care and positive experiences."
"Over half of the agency's children are living with their brothers and sisters, which further enhances their sense of belonging."