Fostering Gloucestershire County Council
Gloucestershire County Council Fostering Service
Gloucester · Local AuthorityLocally run
Gloucestershire County Council's own fostering service. Ofsted judged the experiences and progress of children in care Outstanding in June 2025 (Good overall).
What to know about Fostering Gloucestershire
Fostering Gloucestershire is run by Gloucestershire County Council from Shire Hall in Gloucester. It looks for carers who can help children stay close to their schools, friends and family. Ofsted found more children now live in familiar communities, and says more still needs to be done for teenagers waiting for long-term homes.
Gloucestershire recruits as part of Fostering South West, a partnership with 14 other councils, so enquiries go through the Foster With Your Local Council regional form.
gloucestershire.gov.ukSupport at a glance
A dedicated fostering social worker supports you day to day, with intensive support in your first year.
In your first year, expert guidance from child psychologists and extra help from a family support worker.
Out-of-hours support from social workers in an emergency, with help available 24/7.
The chance to be mentored by an experienced foster carer, plus regular support groups with other foster carers in your area.
Skills to Foster before approval, then training in therapeutic care, safeguarding and first aid, in Gloucestershire or online, with a yearly personal development plan.
The Kids 4 Kids support group for your own children, free Fostering Network and New Family Social membership, extra allowances for holidays, birthdays and festivals, and appreciation events.
The Mockingbird Family Model
Gloucestershire has fully embraced the national Mockingbird Family Model, which builds an extended family of foster carers around each other, so carers aren't managing alone.
Fostering households are grouped into small networks of around 6 to 10 families.
Each constellation is anchored by an experienced carer who offers peer advice and a familiar base.
Constellation families meet up regularly, so children and carers build friendships beyond their own household.
Children can stay overnight with a trusted constellation family, giving carers planned breaks.
Types of fostering offered
Allowances
Shortlist to check current rates. Gloucestershire publishes worked examples, such as £440.23 a week for a 16-year-old in their first year of long-term fostering. Figures checked September 2026.
Shortlist to confirm what you'd be paid
Areas covered
GL: GL
What Ofsted say
Ofsted inspected Gloucestershire's children's services on 9 to 20 June 2025. It judged the experiences and progress of children in care Outstanding and overall effectiveness Good, up from requires improvement in 2022.
Local authorities are inspected under the ILACS framework across all children's services. Ratings shown reflect the 'Children in Care' sub-judgment.
"Exceptionally strong relationships are a consistent feature for children in care."
"Foster carers feel well supported and appreciated by the service."
"Recruitment and retention of carers has been a particular area of success for the service and has led to a net increase in foster carers and foster placements."
Exceptional partner
Fostering Gloucestershire meets our highest standard: children in care rated Outstanding by Ofsted, a therapeutic, trauma-informed model with child psychologists, out-of-hours support from social workers, mentoring and Mockingbird, and ongoing training.
How we award badges →