Question 1

Why is there such high demand for foster carers in Greater Manchester?

Accepted Answer

Manchester City Council has one of the highest rates of children in care per head of population in England, and across all ten Greater Manchester boroughs there is significant unmet demand — particularly for teenagers, sibling groups and children with complex or additional needs.

Greater Manchester is also one of the UK's most ethnically diverse regions. Fostering agencies actively seek carers from a wide range of cultural and language backgrounds so that children can be placed with families who understand where they come from. If you have heritage from a particular community or speak a language other than English at home, that can be meaningful when it comes to matching.

Question 2

How do I become a foster carer in Manchester?

Accepted Answer

The first step is to contact two or three of the fostering services listed on this page. You can approach a local authority fostering team — such as Manchester City Council, Salford City Council, Oldham Council or Rochdale Council — or an independent fostering agency with a dedicated North West team. Each will talk you through what they're looking for and what the process involves; it's also your chance to ask questions and get a feel for whether the organisation is right for you.

If you decide to go ahead, you'll begin a formal assessment involving home visits, background checks, training and interviews with a qualified social worker. This typically takes four to six months and ends with a review by an independent fostering panel. Once approved, you'll be matched with a child whose needs, background and personality are carefully considered alongside your own experience, home situation and the kind of fostering you feel called to do.

Question 3

What is the difference between fostering through my local council and an independent fostering agency in Manchester?

Accepted Answer

Each of Greater Manchester's ten boroughs has its own local authority fostering service. These focus on recruiting carers for children already in that council's care, and are often the first port of call for people who want to foster within their own borough — for example, Manchester City Council, Salford City Council or Bury Council.

Independent fostering agencies (IFAs) are privately run organisations — sometimes charities or social enterprises — that councils commission when they need additional placements. IFAs typically recruit across Greater Manchester as a whole, and some offer higher weekly allowances or more specialist support for children with complex needs. The table on this page lets you compare both types side by side before you make contact.

Question 4

How much do foster carers get paid in Manchester?

Accepted Answer

Most foster carers in Greater Manchester receive a weekly allowance starting from around £230 per child, though the figure varies considerably depending on the agency, the child's age, and the type of fostering. Specialist placements — including therapeutic fostering, sibling groups and children with complex needs — can attract significantly higher allowances, and Greater Manchester has particularly high demand for exactly these placements.

Fostering allowances are not a salary — they are intended to cover the costs of caring for a child and are largely tax-free. We know fostering has real financial implications for many families, which is why we ask every agency in this directory to include their allowance information so you can compare providers before making any decisions.

Question 5

Can I foster just within my own Manchester borough, or do I need to cover the whole region?

Accepted Answer

You can absolutely foster within your own borough. Each of Greater Manchester's ten boroughs has its own local authority fostering service — if you live in Salford, for example, you can apply directly to Salford City Council and care for children from that local area. The same applies in Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Bolton, Bury, Wigan, Tameside, Stockport and Trafford.

If you're open to fostering across a wider area, independent fostering agencies with North West teams can place children from any Greater Manchester council — and sometimes from neighbouring areas. Neither approach is better than the other; it comes down to what works for your family.

Question 6

How long does it take to become an approved foster carer in Manchester?

Accepted Answer

The assessment process typically takes between four and six months from your first enquiry, whether you apply through a Greater Manchester local authority or an independent fostering agency. It includes a detailed home study by a qualified social worker, DBS checks, references, training sessions and a review by an independent fostering panel.

Some Greater Manchester IFAs offer an accelerated assessment for people with relevant professional experience — for example, social workers, nurses, teachers or childminders. If you think you might qualify, it's worth asking about this when you make your first enquiry.

Question 7

Do I need to own my home to foster in Manchester?

Accepted Answer

No — you do not need to own your home to become a foster carer in Greater Manchester. Renters can and do foster across all ten boroughs. What matters most is that you have a stable home with a spare bedroom available for a child. If you rent, it's worth checking whether your tenancy agreement permits fostering and, if needed, getting written confirmation from your landlord. Your fostering agency will guide you through this during the assessment process.

Question 8

Which boroughs are covered by this Greater Manchester directory?

Accepted Answer

This directory covers all ten Greater Manchester boroughs: Manchester, Salford, Stockport, Oldham, Rochdale, Bolton, Bury, Wigan, Tameside and Trafford. The agencies listed here serve carers across the full region — including borough-specific local authority fostering services, regional IFAs operating across Greater Manchester as a whole, and national agencies that recruit UK-wide.

Agency	Location	Ofsted	Provider type	Fostering types	Allowance	Reviews
Action for Children Fostering National	Salford	Good	Charity	Short-term, long-term, emergency, respite, parent and child, therapeutic, sibling groups	—	No rating
Alpha Plus Fostering Regional	Oldham (Chadderton)	Outstanding	Independent Fostering Agency	Short-term, long-term, emergency, respite, parent and child, therapeutic, sibling groups	—	No rating
By the Bridge National	Styal	Not yet inspected	Independent Fostering Agency	Short-term, long-term, emergency, respite, parent and child, therapeutic	—	No rating
By the Bridge National	Styal	Not yet inspected	Independent Fostering Agency	Short-term, long-term, emergency, respite, parent and child, therapeutic	—	No rating
Capstone Foster Care National	Manchester	Outstanding	Independent Fostering Agency	Short-term, long-term, emergency, respite, parent and child, therapeutic	—	No rating
Caritas Care Regional	Preston	Good	Charity	Short-term, long-term, emergency, respite, parent and child, therapeutic, sibling groups	—	No rating
Compass Fostering National	Bolton	Good	Independent Fostering Agency	Short-term, long-term, emergency, respite, parent and child, sibling groups	—	No rating
Compass Fostering North National	Bradford	Good	Independent Fostering Agency	Short-term, long-term, emergency, respite, parent and child, sibling groups	—	No rating
Cuffe and Lacey Fostering Regional	Burnley	Outstanding	Independent Fostering Agency	Short-term, long-term, emergency, respite, parent and child, therapeutic	—	No rating
Foster Care Associates National	Chorley	Good	Independent Fostering Agency	Short-term, long-term, emergency, respite, parent and child, therapeutic, sibling groups	—	No rating
Fostering Solutions National	Bolton	Outstanding	Independent Fostering Agency	Short-term, long-term, emergency, respite, parent and child, therapeutic, sibling groups	—	No rating
Fusion Fostering National	Leyland	Good	Independent Fostering Agency	Short-term, long-term, emergency, respite, parent and child	—	No rating
Manchester City Council Fostering Service Regional	Manchester	Good	Local Authority	Short-term, long-term, emergency, respite, parent and child	Approximately £380 per week per child on average (allowance + skills fee). New carers approximately £300/week; experienced approximately £400/week	No rating
National Fostering Agency National	Warrington	Good	Independent Fostering Agency	Short-term, long-term, emergency, respite, parent and child, therapeutic, sibling groups	—	No rating
Next Stage for Fostering Regional	Westhoughton (Bolton)	Outstanding	Independent Fostering Agency	Short-term, long-term, emergency, respite, parent and child, sibling groups	—	No rating
Oldham Council Fostering Service Locally run	Oldham	Good	Local Authority	Short-term, long-term, emergency, respite, parent and child	—	No rating
Orange Grove Fostercare National	Lower Stretton (Warrington)	Outstanding	Independent Fostering Agency	Short-term, long-term, emergency, respite, parent and child, therapeutic, sibling groups	—	No rating
Parallel Parents National	St Helens	Good	Independent Fostering Agency	Short-term, long-term, emergency, respite, parent and child, therapeutic, sibling groups	—	No rating
Safehouses Fostering Regional	Denshaw (Oldham)	Outstanding	Independent Fostering Agency	Short-term, long-term, emergency, respite, parent and child, therapeutic, sibling groups	—	No rating
Salford City Council Fostering Service Locally run	Salford	Good	Local Authority	Short-term, long-term, emergency, respite, parent and child	—	No rating
SWIIS Foster Care National	Manchester (Old Trafford)	Outstanding	Independent Fostering Agency	Short-term, long-term, emergency, respite, parent and child, therapeutic, sibling groups	Approximately £30160 per year per child in arrangement (tax-free) — equivalent to approximately £580 per week	No rating
Three Circles Fostering Regional	Wilmslow	Outstanding	Independent Fostering Agency	Short-term, long-term, emergency, respite, parent and child, therapeutic	—	No rating
UK Fostering National	Midlands	Outstanding	Independent Fostering Agency	Short-term, long-term, emergency, respite, parent and child, sibling groups	—	No rating
UK Fostering National	Warrington	Outstanding	Independent Fostering Agency	Short-term, long-term, emergency, respite, parent and child, sibling groups	—	No rating

Fostering Agencies in Greater Manchester

Compare Fostering Agencies Across Manchester, Salford, Oldham and the Wider Greater Manchester Region

About Fostering Agencies in Greater Manchester

Local authority fostering services

Independent fostering agencies (IFAs)

Fostering guides

How to choose a fostering agency: 10 vital questions to ask

Local authority or independent agency? A guide to choosing in Greater Manchester

Frequently Asked Questions About Fostering in Greater Manchester