Child Care Bureau Fostering Services
Worcester · Independent Fostering AgencyRegional
Ofsted: OutstandingChild Care Bureau Fostering Services is an Ofsted-registered fostering service based at Worcester.
What sets Child Care Bureau apart
Child Care Bureau is a friendly, local fostering agency based at the Elgar Business Centre in Worcester, providing outstanding fostering services across the West Midlands. They have been supporting foster families and the children they care for for over 25 years, with the agency registered with Ofsted since 2004.
Although the agency became part of a wider national group in 2018, it operates as a small, locally-led service with smaller caseloads and close working relationships between carers and staff. The team's clinical "Invictus" service provides specialist support for children with complex social and emotional needs.
childcarebureau.co.uk49
Approved fostering households
76
Children living with Child Care Bureau carers
Support at a glance
Supervising social workers carry smaller caseloads so they can build a real relationship with you and your children.
Out-of-hours support staffed by people who know the agency and your placement.
Specialist clinical support for children with complex social and emotional needs, including evidence-based resources for emotional wellbeing.
A broad ongoing training catalogue covering trauma, attachment, safeguarding and life-story work.
Specialist support that helps children move successfully from residential care into a fostering family.
Activities throughout the year — bake sales, swap shops, Duke of Edinburgh — designed and chosen with the children.
Types of fostering offered
Child Care Bureau offers a wide range of placement types including short-term, long-term, bridging, emergency, respite, parent and child, unaccompanied young people and "staying put" arrangements for young adults remaining with their foster family beyond 18.
Allowances
From £450/week per child, with higher rates for therapeutic and parent-and-child placements. Allowances cover the child's living costs and include a professional fee that recognises your skills and experience.
What Ofsted say
Inspected over 27 November – 1 December 2023, Child Care Bureau was rated Outstanding for both the experiences and progress of children and how well children are helped and protected, with leadership and management judged Good.
Inspectors described the service as providing "highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good", with innovative direct work, strong clinical input through the Invictus service and exceptional outcomes for children — three young people have gone on to university.
Ofsted inspection quotes
"Children make exceptional progress from their starting points and form safe and secure attachments with their foster parents and their families."
"Children enjoy long-term and stable placements. This is because foster parents are committed to providing the children with loving homes."
"Supervising social workers and fostering support workers are innovative in their practice and enthusiastic about the support they provide."
"Staff from the agency 'go above and beyond' for the children and children always speak positively about the staff and time they have with them."
"Children's mental health is prioritised by the agency. The 'Invictus' service provides clinical support for children who experience complex social and emotional difficulties."