As a charity, we're not here to profit from fostering
Tough decisions have to be made when profits are on the line and there are shareholders to please. That's where Diagrama Fostering is different from other foster agencies. As a not-for-profit organisation any ‘profit’ from our fostering service is ploughed straight back into ensuring our foster carers and the children in our care are supported in the best way possible. So we can genuinely, hand on heart, say we put children at the heart of everything we do and every decision we make, without commercial distractions.
"Children have positive and secure relationships with the adults who care for them.
Foster carers demonstrate a high level of care and commitment to children who they view as part of the family".
Ofsted inspection, 2023
Why foster carers choose to work with Diagrama
Finding the right foster agency to suit your needs is important. You want a team that will be solution-focused and there to support you 24/7. As a progressive, genuinely caring and completely child-focused agency, Diagrama foster carers are highly valued members of our team who receive dedicated support and comprehensive training. Our carers are assigned a dedicated supporting social worker who is there to guide them through every step of their placement.
Many local authorities across the UK request foster care placements from Diagrama Fostering, which means we are able to identify placement matches that work for you and your family needs. That way we know you will have the best chance of having a positive impact on the child’s future. We are particularly interested in carers who can consider long-term and parent and child placements.
Foster Care Agency in London, Kent, Surrey and East Sussex
Diagrama Fostering is an independent, not-for-profit fostering agency, rated GOOD by Ofsted. We have offices in Croydon, and Chatham, Kent and our foster carers are based across a wide area covering south London, Surrey, East Sussex and Kent.
We are part of the Diagrama Foundation, a UK charity dedicated to delivering a range of services to improve the lives of vulnerable children and adults. You can read more about our approach to foster care in our Statement Of Purpose.
Our partners
Coram BAAF
Diagrama Fostering is a member of Coram BAAF Adoption and Fostering Academy - the leading membership organisation dedicated to improving outcomes for children and young people in care.
Fostering Network
The Fostering Network provides a support network for foster care as well as influencing and shaping fostering policy and practice. All Diagrama foster carers receive free membership and benefit from Fostering Network’s wide range of services.
Social Care Training Hub
Diagrama Fostering subscribes to The Social Care Training Hub - the UK number one provider of blended learning specific to Fostering, Children Homes, Schools & Care Leaving.
Social Work England
Diagrama Fostering is regulated by Social Work England, an organisation which regulates social workers in England. It sets standards, holds a register, quality assures education and investigates complaints. From 2 December 2019, Social Work England took over the regulation of social workers in England from the Health and Care Professions Council.
New Family Social
Diagrama Fostering is a member of this UK network which offers specialist support for LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) adoptive and foster families. Our LGBTQ+ foster carers receive free membership to New Family Social, as well as regular updates and full access to their services.
“We chose to foster so that we could make a difference. Inviting another child into your home and allowing them to find some stability, come alive and begin to really thrive is the best family decision we have made, and I couldn’t recommend it highly enough.”
Chris and Nic Kimmance
Our Values
Fostering a child can have a life-long impact on everyone involved. As we support our foster carers on that journey we adopt the following values:
“After looking at various agencies we chose the charity Diagrama and dipped our toe into fostering by attending one of their information evenings, where we were able to ask as many questions as we wanted.”
Diagrama Foster Carer.
Our Foster Care Team
Diagrama’s fostering team is made up of dedicated and highly skilled professionals with many years’ experience working with vulnerable children in care and their families.
Our staff and foster carers receive regular and ongoing training. We are a learning agency, striving for excellence, and believe that by investing in our team now we are investing in our society.
All our social workers are registered with Social Work England (SWE) – and we subscribe to their high standards of practice.
We also have an education specialist who provides regular education support to our foster carers.
"Foster carers help children to maintain relationships with their family and friends."
Ofsted, 2023
Governance
Diagrama Fostering service has a flat governance structure. We are a part of friendly and people-oriented organisation where the Chief Executive’s door is always open.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES: The Board of Trustees meet quarterly to review the organisation’s work and services, and to agree the strategic goals for the charity. The Board also reviews its own operation, effectiveness and governance annually.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE: The Trustees appoint, support and monitor the Chief Executive and delegate day-to-day management of the charity to the Chief Executive. The Chief Executive has overall responsibility for all the operational matters and reports directly to the Trustees regularly. The Chief Executive is David McGuire. You can find more information about David on the Diagrama Foundation website. The Chief Executive is assisted by a senior management team comprising: Finance manager, Human Resources manager and Head of Children’s Services.
FOSTER CARE LEADERSHIP: Our fostering service is headed up by Kate Patel who is supported by team leaders, Lauren Ingram and Margaret Gardiner - all seasoned professionals within the field of fostering and adoption. You can reach them at: Diagrama Fostering, Airport House, Purley Way, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 0XZ. Tel: 020 8668 2181. Email: fostering@diagrama.org