Due to the shortage of foster carers in Bromley, Safehouses have opened a new office in Orpington.

They held an open day on September 8 which the local mayor attended.

There are a great number of children who need the stability of a safe, caring family life. It’s hard work, but very rewarding.

Safehouses, was set up in 1997, and operates in Kent, East Anglia, Essex and Greater London, and is part of the Next Step Fostering Group.

Safehouses is able to offer a highly personalised package of support to each of the children placed with the agency.

A stable and well qualified staff team work together, guided by professional managers, to give foster carers, advice, support and guidance to carers and children, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

A high percentage of the children coming to the agency stay for several years – often until they move into independence, but we also offer short–term, respite and mother and baby placements.

The children and young people come from many different backgrounds ranging from 0-18 years old and Safehouses has made a commitment to follow the progress of the young people looked after by us and offers a helping hand to these young people when its needed.

There is no such thing as a typical foster carer, they come from varied backgrounds with varied lifestyles, they are ordinary people doing extra ordinary jobs.

Safehouses welcomes enquiries from people who feel they have something to offer a child who needs a safe and caring home.

You don’t have to be a married couple – we welcome enquiries from anyone who has the life experience to be able to look after somebody else’s child.

Carers are not only offered high levels of support and regular training, they also receive a generous payment to enable them to look after the children to a high standard.

Safehouses (along with all children’s services), is rigorously inspected and is proud to say that once  again it has been graded ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted when inspected in December 2013.

If you feel that you have room to welcome a young person into your home and could foster for Safehouses, call 01689 822700 for a friendly chat.