This page lists fostering agencies working across Northern Ireland, covering Belfast, Derry, Londonderry, Newry, Lisburn, and communities right across the province. Compare your options here before making any decisions.
Children in Care in Northern Ireland – A Growing Need
Northern Ireland has seen a significant and sustained rise in children entering care. Northern Ireland has had the largest increase in children in care of any UK nation over the last decade, rising by 33%, with 3,999 children in care. More recently, at 31 March 2025, 4,188 children and young people were in care in Northern Ireland – the highest number recorded since the introduction of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995.
The number of children in care in Northern Ireland has risen by 46% in the last decade and by 80% since 1999. That is a striking increase, and it reflects both demographic pressures and the enormous demand this places on an already stretched system. More foster families are urgently needed right across Northern Ireland.
How Fostering Works Differently in Northern Ireland
Fostering in Northern Ireland operates under a different legal and regulatory framework to the rest of the UK. The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 governs the care system here. Fostering agencies in Northern Ireland are regulated by the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) rather than Ofsted.
Northern Ireland has the largest proportion of children living with foster carers of any UK nation, at 84%. That means foster carers are absolutely central to the Northern Ireland care system. Kinship foster care – where children are looked after by grandparents or other relatives – makes up the majority of those foster placements.
Independent fostering agencies also operate in Northern Ireland alongside the five Health and Social Care Trusts, which act as the equivalent of local authority fostering services on the mainland.
The Role of the Health and Social Care Trusts
In Northern Ireland, fostering through the statutory sector means working with one of five HSC Trusts: Belfast, South Eastern, Northern, Southern, or Western. Each Trust covers a defined geographical area and recruits its own foster carers.
At 31 March 2025, there were 2,868 HSC Trust recruited foster carers and a further 261 independent sector foster carers in Northern Ireland. The independent sector is smaller here than in England, but plays an important role particularly for children with more complex needs.
Support for Foster Carers in Northern Ireland
Foster carers in Northern Ireland have access to pre-approval training, an allocated supervising social worker, ongoing professional development, and support networks. The Fostering Network has a strong presence in Northern Ireland and provides additional training, advocacy, and peer support for carers across the province.
Given the pressures on the system, Northern Ireland has recognised the need to invest more in carer support and retention. Ask any agency or Trust you speak to directly what their support package looks like in practice, and how carers describe their experience.
Could You Foster in Northern Ireland?
The eligibility principles are broadly similar to the rest of the UK. You need to be over 21, have a spare bedroom, and have the right to live and work in the UK. You do not need to own your home or be in a relationship.
Northern Ireland has a strong tradition of community, faith, and family. Many foster carers here are motivated by a deep sense of responsibility to the children in their communities. If you have stability, warmth, and the willingness to keep showing up for a child, an agency or Trust will want to hear from you.
Types of Fostering in Northern Ireland
Short-term fostering, long-term fostering, and emergency fostering are all available. Short breaks fostering provides regular, planned care for another family's child. Parent and child fostering supports young parents alongside their babies. Therapeutic fostering is available for children with more complex needs.
Kinship fostering – where a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or family friend steps in to care for a child – is also widely supported across Northern Ireland and can be arranged through the HSC Trusts.
Finding an Agency or Trust
The agencies and services listed below work across Northern Ireland. Compare their RQIA ratings, the areas they cover, and their specialist areas. The first conversation is always informal and carries no commitment.