If you’re considering opening your home to a child in need, you’ve likely come across two paths: fostering and adoption.
While both provide safe and nurturing homes for children who cannot live with their birth families, they come with distinct responsibilities, processes and commitments. Understanding these differences will help you decide which option aligns best with your family’s goals, skills and capacity for care.
Whether you live in Essex, Suffolk, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire, or Bedfordshire, Mosaic Foster Care is here to guide and support you through your decision.
Foster care provides a temporary or long-term home for children who are unable to stay with their biological parents due to various circumstances. As a foster parent, you offer stability, security and care while decisions are made about the child’s future. This might involve reunification with their birth family, transitioning to adoption or continuing in long-term foster care.
Foster care provides a temporary or long-term home for children who cannot stay with their birth parents due to various circumstances. Foster parents offer stability, security and support while decisions about the child’s future are made. This might involve:
Foster parents do not have full legal parental responsibility for the child. Instead, decisions about the child’s education, health and well-being are shared between you, the local authority and the child’s birth parents. This collaborative approach ensures the child’s welfare is always prioritised.
There are several types of foster care, each serving different needs:
Adoption is a permanent, legal process where you become the child’s parent, taking on full parental rights and responsibilities. An adoption order transfers legal guardianship to you, severing ties with the child’s birth family.
Adoption involves detailed assessments, background checks, and court approvals. While the process can be lengthy, the result is a lifelong commitment to raising and supporting the child as part of your family.
Financial support for adoptive parents can come through the Adoption Support Fund for children with additional needs. Adoptive parents are also entitled to Adoption Leave, similar to maternity leave, to help adjust to the new family dynamic.
One key difference between fostering and adoption is the financial aspect. Foster carers receive regular allowances to cover the costs of caring for a child. These fees ensure that foster parents can meet the child’s needs without financial strain.
In adoption, ongoing allowances are not typical, but financial support may be available through the Adoption Allowance or the Adoption Support Fund for children with additional needs. Adoptive parents are also entitled to Adoption Leave, similar to maternity leave, to help them adjust to their new family dynamic.
Both fostering and adoption require a thorough approval process. For fostering, this involves training, background checks, and assessments to ensure you can provide the right support and environment. Adoption follows a similar path, with the additional requirement of an adoption agency facilitating the process and obtaining a formal adoption order through the courts.
At Mosaic, our dedicated team of professionals guides you through every step of the fostering process. We ensure you have the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to succeed. Whether you’re navigating your first foster placement or considering whether adoption or long-term fostering is a better fit for you, we’re here to help.
The goal of short-term fostering is often reunification with the child’s birth family. This process supports children in returning to their biological parents when it’s safe and appropriate. For children who cannot return home, long-term foster care or adoption offers the stability and nurturing environment they need.
At Mosaic, we specialise in long-term foster placements, ensuring children have the opportunity to build lasting bonds and thrive in a stable family setting. Our focus on therapeutic care means you’re never alone. Our in-house support is just a call away.
Deciding between fostering and adoption is a deeply personal choice. Both paths offer the chance to make a meaningful impact on a child’s life. Whether you’re drawn to the flexibility of fostering or the permanence of adoption, understanding the process, responsibilities and commitment involved is crucial.
At Mosaic Foster Care, we’re here to answer your questions and guide you through your fostering journey. Our experienced team provides comprehensive training, 24/7 support, and a community of dedicated foster parents. We believe every child deserves a safe, caring home where they can heal, grow and flourish.
Whether you choose fostering or adoption, the right agency makes a significant difference. At Mosaic Foster Care, we are rated Outstanding by Ofsted and understand the complexities and emotional demands of caring for children. That’s why we offer:
Yes! Pets can offer children comfort and companionship. During the assessment process Mosaic ensures your pets are suitable for a fostering environment.
Foster parents receive fostering allowances to cover the child’s care costs. Mosaic also offers additional payment, resources and support for children with complex needs.
The approval process varies but typically takes several months. Mosaic’s dedicated team guides you through each step, ensuring you feel informed and supported.
Yes, you can transfer to a new fostering agency if your current one isn’t the right fit. Mosaic ensures a smooth transfer process with minimal disruption to the child.
If you’re in Essex, Suffolk, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire, or Bedfordshire and want to explore fostering, Mosaic Foster Care is here to help. We offer unparalleled support, specialised accredited training and a commitment to long-term stability.
📞 https://www.mosaicfostercare.com/contact-us/ and take the first step toward changing a child’s life — and yours.
