A supportive foster care agency
We care for you so you can care for children
Orchard Care Fostering is a friendly, not-for-profit fostering agency, nominated as finalists at the Social Worker Awards 2023. Established in 2005, we remain family-run to this day: dedicated to equal opportunities for all children and committed to transforming lives for the better. Our mission is to offer children with complex needs the opportunity to live happily in a family setting. We cover the North East area including Durham, Darlington, Bishop Auckland, Sunderland, Gateshead, Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Stockton, Hartlepool, Consett, Stanley, and more.
Stability
Safeguarding
Want to find out more about fostering and explore the possibility of helping a child?
We aim to offer children the opportunity to live happily in a family setting
At Orchard Care Fostering we work with families and individuals that really want to explore how they can make a difference in a child’s life. If you are considering fostering and would like more information, make us your first point of contact to see how we can help. We are a specialist highly experienced foster care agency run on a 'not-for-profit' basis.
What does 'not-for-profit' fostering agency mean in practice?
It means that the money we acquire is put back into the organisation - not for our own good but for the good of the children and young people out there who need our support, or who will need it in the future! Our not-for-profit policy allows us to maintain the high standards of care our service users expect, deserve, and require.
We have had great success because our organisation is run by people who are extremely dedicated to helping children and young people, as well as their carers, in every way that they can. We believe it is essential to provide excellent standards of communication and support, and to understand the need for carers and children to always feel fully supported. Our team behave as an extended family and can provide advice whenever it is needed, 24/7. Our stability rate is 98% for young people and we are one of the only fostering agencies that pay a retainer to carers between placements.*
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*Subject to terms and conditions
Personal Service
Family-run
Foster a child with support from Orchard Care
Our mission is to offer children with complex needs the opportunity to live happily in a family setting. We have a trusted team that is on hand 24/7 to offer support to both carers and foster children at any stage of the process. Read on to find out more about us.
Why choose us?
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Not for Profit Fostering Agency
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Established since 2005
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Social Workers provide monthly supervision
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Tailored support offered by our experienced team
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We have Support Workers Available
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A Foundation for Children with Complex Needs
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We can offer support to you 365 days per year
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Full Training Programme offered to Foster Carers
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A Foundation for Children with a range of Needs
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Opportunities for Children that Need Them Most
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Daytime Support provided if Child is not in School
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Educational Support for Foster Families
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Properties Available for Live-in Care
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Disabled Access Properties with Subsidised Rent
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Minimum of weekly contact from our team
The Social Worker of the Year Awards is the only national awards event for social work in England. The awards attract hundreds of entries and Orchard Care Fostering was a celebrated finalist in 2023. We are extremely proud to be recognised for the work that we do locally and to really see the difference we make when it comes to the foster system. You can find out more about these awards here: https://www.socialworkawards.com/
Trusted by leading care and education organisations
Meet the team
Through robust and regular supervision we support foster carers to stay in a healthy place. We have a very experienced team comprised up of Support Workers and Social Workers who are there for carers and young people when they need it most. Get to know our team now. They will work with you to tailor packages of support for you and set up for success!
Sarah
Maria
Jane
Steph
Gareth
Eva
Nicole
Julia
Paul
Kate
Siena
We support fostering in:
Durham, Darlington, Newcastle, Bishop Auckland, Gateshead, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees, Sunderland, and across the Northeast.
Hear from our carers
Hi, I’m Shell, I joined Orchard Care Fostering during Lockdown and it has been a great experience over the last 2 and half years. I have made many new friends and received great support from Orchard Care, this is an agency that is very person-centred based which I love and I look forward to many more years of being part of the Orchard family.
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I am a single non-binary carer and I never believed I could foster but I have never looked back!
Hi I’m Louise and I have been a foster carer for Orchard Care Fostering for 5 years.
The process to come into fostering takes time and it is intrusive but I found this to be essential to making sure I was right to foster; and the matching process for children is just as thorough. These thorough processes set up for success.
The support staff at Orchard Care Fostering is second to none and the friendships and relationships with other carers have been vital to the care journey I have had.
I thought about fostering a long time before I actually looked into it but the time was never right, the opportunity came when I became redundant and thought it was now or never.
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The child I have had been moved to many placements before coming to me and it is so rewarding to see the positive changes in a young person whilst in your care.
Although the journey is challenging the support is always there at Orchard Care to help you understand the needs of the child and be supported to see how much a settled home can make. Having realistic expectations that no 2 days are the same in fostering just like no 2 children are and this is where the matching process is so important and the right level of support.
Durham
Want to speak to a fostering agency in the northeast that truly cares? Contact Orchard Care Fostering now.
Like most people, you’ve probably got a lot of questions to ask before deciding whether fostering is right for you. It is our role to help with all your queries and help you make the right decision for your circumstances. One of our team is available to talk to you over the phone to answer any of your fostering queries. All calls are strictly confidential, and we offer honest and practical advice.
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0191 378 4444 (24 hour line)
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Our offices are open on weekdays only -
Mon to Thurs 8.30am-5pm,
Fri 8.30am-4.30pm
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You can also get in touch with us by emailing info@orchardcare.org.uk