Thinking about becoming a foster carer in the North West? You are in the right place. This page brings together independent fostering agencies operating across Manchester, Liverpool, Lancashire, Cumbria, and the surrounding areas, so you can compare your options in one place and find the agency that is the right fit for you.
Fostering in the North West – What You Need to Know
The North West of England is one of the busiest regions for fostering in the country. It has the highest number of children's homes of any region in England, with 866 homes and 2,823 places as of March 2024. That tells you something important about the scale of need in this region, and why foster carers here make such a significant difference.
Nationally, around 57,000 children are in foster care at any one time. The North West accounts for a substantial share of that. Children come into care for many different reasons – family breakdown, abuse, neglect, or a parent dealing with a health crisis. Most of them simply need a safe, stable home while plans are made for their future. That is where foster carers come in.
If you live in Manchester, Liverpool, Preston, Blackpool, Lancaster, Warrington, Wigan, or anywhere across Cumbria, there are very likely children in your area waiting for a foster placement right now.
Independent Fostering Agencies vs the Local Authority – What is the Difference?
When people first look into fostering, they often assume they have to go through their local council. That is not the case. You have a genuine choice between fostering through your local authority or through an independent fostering agency (IFA).
Independent fostering agencies now account for 43% of all fostering households in England, and 47% of all filled fostering places. That growth reflects the fact that many carers find the support, training, and allowances offered by independent agencies to be stronger than what the local authority can provide.
The local authority option means you are approved and supported directly by your council – Manchester City Council, Liverpool City Council, and so on. This can work well, particularly if you want to foster children from your specific local area.
Independent fostering agencies tend to offer more intensive support packages, higher allowances in many cases, more specialist training, and a dedicated supervising social worker who often carries a smaller caseload. IFA households are also more likely to offer multiple types of foster care, with 85% of IFA households approved for more than one care type, compared to 45% of local authority households.
The key is not which type is better in the abstract – it is which agency gives you the right support for the children you want to care for and the life you lead.
What Support Looks Like for Foster Carers in the North West
Good agencies do not just approve you and leave you to get on with it. They walk alongside you throughout your fostering journey. Here is what you should expect from a well-run independent fostering agency in this region:
A dedicated supervising social worker who knows you and your household. Regular visits, not just when things go wrong. Access to training before and after approval, including specialist courses for caring for children who have experienced trauma. A 24-hour support line for those moments when something happens late at night and you need to talk to someone who understands. Annual reviews that feel supportive rather than like an inspection. And a fostering allowance that genuinely covers the cost of caring for a child.
The quality of this support varies between agencies, which is exactly why comparing your options before you commit matters so much.
Am I Eligible to Foster in the North West?
This is usually the first question people ask, and the answer is more flexible than most people expect.
You do not need to own your home – renting is fine as long as you have a spare bedroom. You do not need to be married or in a relationship. You do not need to be a certain age, although you must be over 21. You can work full time in some fostering arrangements, particularly short breaks fostering. You can have a criminal record in some cases, depending on the nature of the offence. And you do not need previous childcare experience, although life experience counts for a lot.
What agencies are genuinely looking for is warmth, resilience, patience, and the ability to put a child's needs ahead of your own. If you have those qualities, it is worth having a conversation.
Types of Fostering Available in the North West
Most agencies in this region offer a range of fostering types, so you can find something that works for your circumstances.
Short-term fostering involves caring for a child for a few weeks or months while longer-term plans are made. Long-term fostering means becoming a child's home until they reach adulthood. Emergency fostering means being available at short notice, sometimes overnight, when a child suddenly needs somewhere safe. Short breaks fostering (sometimes called respite care) means giving another foster family a break by caring for their child for a weekend or a few days – this can be a good starting point if you want to test the water. Parent and child fostering involves supporting a young parent alongside their baby. And therapeutic fostering is for children with complex emotional or behavioural needs who require a particularly skilled approach.
Different agencies have different strengths in these areas. The listings below will help you identify which agencies in the North West specialise in the type of fostering that interests you.
How to Use This Page
The agencies listed below all operate in the North West of England. You can compare their Ofsted ratings, the types of fostering they offer, the support they provide, and their contact details.
Take your time. Read their websites. Ask questions before you commit to an information evening. The right agency for you is the one that feels like a genuine partner – not just an organisation processing your application.
If you are not sure where to start, our free Foster Carer's Starter Guide walks you through the whole process from first thought to first placement. You can download it free using the button below.