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Fostercare in Northern Ireland

Department of Health, social Services and Public Safety

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Welcome

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Welcome to Northern Ireland's Health and Social Care Fostering Service.

There are around 2,400 children and young people in care in Northern Ireland. In any one day approximately 1,680 of these children and young people being looked after by Health and Social Care Trusts are living with foster carers.


Fostering provides children who cannot live with their own families with alternative care where they can benefit from a loving, safe and stable home for as long as they need it.

The five Health and Social Care Trusts are the statutory body with responsibility for the welfare of all Looked After Children in Northern Ireland. As such, they are in the best position to place children with foster carers.

There are currently around 1,660 Health and Social Care foster carers - made up of emergency, short term, long term, friend / family and respite carers.

The Trusts would be delighted to hear from anyone who cares about children and feel they could help them through a difficult time in their lives. Applications will be considered by individuals irrespective of age, gender, race, religion, marital status, income, working arrangements or sexual orientation.

Health and Social Care foster carers receive financial allowances, ongoing training and 24 hour support to help them fulfil this vital role.

There are children across Northern Ireland who are waiting for a foster home today. You could brighten up their world by becoming a Health and Social Care foster carer.