Atrium Foster Care
Lichfield · Independent Fostering AgencyLocally run
Ofsted: GoodAtrium Foster Care is an Ofsted-registered fostering service based at Lichfield.
What sets Atrium Foster Care apart
Atrium is a brand new, small, therapeutically-minded independent fostering agency, registered with Ofsted in October 2023. Its first full Ofsted inspection in August 2024 rated all three judgement areas Good, despite the agency only having existed for less than a year.
Because Atrium is small, the responsible individual and registered manager have a genuinely hands-on relationship with every carer and child — they personally meet every new child and run a strong child-centred ethos with a focus on advocacy for the children placed with them.
atriumfostercare.co.uk7
Fostering households (small, growing agency)
9
Children currently placed with Atrium carers
Support at a glance
Children are seen regularly by their independent supervising social worker — separately from the family support visits.
A family support worker visits every new child and works through a personalised welcome box and age-appropriate guide.
Day or night, the team is on hand — Atrium explicitly markets itself on round-the-clock support, because 'care doesn't keep office hours'.
Pre-approval training plus ongoing focused topics in monthly supervision: enjoying & achieving, health & well-being, life-story work and safeguarding.
Ofsted singled out advocacy as a key strength — managers and carers will challenge placing authorities and partner agencies on a child's behalf.
Launch parties, art competitions, summer 'great outdoors' challenges, fundraising walks and personalised certificates for children's progress.
Carers are trained in de-escalation techniques first; physical intervention is only used when there's a child-specific need, closely monitored.
Foster parents and children sit on the panel that recruits new agency staff.
Types of fostering offered
Atrium offers short-term, long-term, respite, emergency, parent-and-child, short break and 'Staying Put' arrangements for young adults. The agency has therapeutic aspirations and works with children who benefit from a small, attentive team around them.
Allowances
From £420/week per child. As a small new agency, Atrium reviews allowances regularly — contact them directly for current rates and skill-based uplifts.
What Ofsted say
All three areas were rated Good at Atrium's very first Ofsted inspection (12–16 August 2024) — a strong result for a brand new agency. No complaints, notifiable incidents or significant concerns had been raised in the period.
Inspectors praised the responsible individual and registered manager as "enthusiastic and unwavering in their determination to enhance and improve the lives of children", with effective internal and external monitoring already embedded.
Ofsted inspection quotes
"This new agency is led by a responsible individual and registered manager who are ambitious for children and foster parents. They have a clear vision for the future of the service, which has a strong child-centred ethos."
"Foster parents say that they feel welcomed and valued by managers and staff. The assessment of potential foster parents and preparation training are thorough."
"Advocacy for children is a key strength of this agency. Foster carers and managers are not afraid to challenge children's placing authorities and other partnership agencies when needed."
"Children's progress is celebrated by managers, staff and foster parents through personalised certificates, gifts and letters. Birth children's achievements are also recognised in the same way."