Fostering in Essex with To the Moon and Back Foster Care
We aim to be the foster agency of choice for our foster carers across Essex, our local team, and of course our children and young people. We work with Essex county council to provide safe loving homes for children, who through no fault of their own, cannot live with their families. We are looking for loving families in Chelmsford, Harlow, Great Dunmow, Saffron Walden, Epping, Loughton Braintree and all areas in between.
The benefits of fostering with us
We are a forward-thinking independent fostering agency. We have a team of wonderful local social workers and therapists. We believe that everyone involved with To the Moon and Back Foster Care has the ability to influence positive change and our continuous improvement. We emphasise equal partnerships and achieve effective team work.
Ethical organisation
Holistic and therapeutic approach
Warm caring team
Successful matching process
Competitive financial support
Trauma informed development
Our locations
We are dedicated to forming close communities of foster carers across Essex and building local powerful networks of support for both experienced foster carers and new to fostering. Fully committed to professional development, we learn together locally at our regular conferences.
We aim to be the foster agency of choice in Essex for foster carers, our staff, the Essex County Council and above all our children. We are looking for foster carers in and around Essex especially in areas such as Chelmsford, Harlow, Great Dunmow, Saffron Walden, Epping, Loughton Braintree and all areas in between. We are looking for people who are willing to go to the moon and back for children, treating the child as they would their own child supporting him or her to achieve their true potential in life.
Chelmsford
Harlow
Great Dunmow
Saffron Walden
Epping
Loughton Braintree
How to become a foster carer with To the Moon and Back Foster Care
We are looking for people who are willing to go to the moon and back for children, treating the child as they would their own child, supporting him or her to achieve their true potential in life.
Initial assessment
Once we have spoken with you, we will arrange a friendly visit to your home to answer your questions and reassure you that your home meets the standard for fostering.
Formal Application
When you are ready, complete and submit an application form and we will undertake the regulatory checks (DBS references and local authority checks) on your behalf.
Formal Assessment
You will work closely with one of our social workers who will get to know and understand more about you and your family and help you to learn even more about fostering.
Our training
You will need to undertake our mandatory training course called “skills to foster” which covers a variety of fostering and child development related subjects.
The Panel
Once your assessment has been finished, you will meet our Panel, they will ask you some questions and check everything is complete and you are prepared for fostering.
Formal Approval Process
Once formally approved to foster you will be approved for categories and ages of children. You will receive an induction and ready to commence fostering.
Apply to become a foster carer
We appreciate that you will have considered fostering for a while before wanting to talk further about it. There are things to consider when thinking about fostering.
As a minimum you need to have a dedicated bedroom available in your home that can be used by a foster child so that they have space they can call their own.
What others say about us
Dr Jocasta Webb Psychotherapist and counsellor
Frequently asked questions
Where are you based?
Our head office is in Cambridge, but we operate within the Essex communities where our foster carers live. Our team, work from home but connected to everyone with the team. Our social workers are selected for their friendliness and ability to build great relationships with our foster carers, but also where they live is really important. We want our team to be able to spend time with you when you need it most and not having to travel so far, that it compromises their ability to support you well.
We operate within Harlow, Colchester, Saffron Walden, and Great Dunmow and all areas in between.
Is it possible to meet other foster carers in my area?
We work to support you to meet and chat with other foster carers. Our foster carers support each other. We have been building communities of foster carers that are close together and we are supportive of theories related to the Mockingbird which enables foster carers to learn from each other and work closely together. We hold Zoom chats too so regardless of where you live you can chat to other foster carers especially during lockdown moments.
Will children go to school locally to where I live?
We work with Essex County Council to support children who come from Essex to remain where they are most settled and being able to continue to go to their own schools. We look for foster carers throughout Essex to enable young people to remain connected to their county.
Where will training and meetings be held, will I have to travel very far?
Foster carer development is very important, but it has to fit in with the everyday life of foster carer’s and we want to make it as easy as possible to access learning. We hold online training sessions, via zoom, so you do not have to leave your home sometimes. We organize face to face training as close to our foster carers as possible. We have delivered training in community centers, and hotels in Colchester and around Stanstead. We look for places that are accessible. We make sure that timings are good for school runs too. We hold conferences which people are willing to travel to as they are great. Its important to us that you feel able to be a part of everything we offer, so it is important that we operate as local to you as possible.