Fostering in East Sussex
Become a foster carer with a local, independent agency, now with an office in Heathfield.
Across East Sussex, children and young people need safe, loving homes where they can feel settled and start to thrive. Lighthouse Fostering is an independent fostering agency recruiting foster carers throughout the county, from Hastings, Bexhill and Rye on the coast to Eastbourne, Lewes, Uckfield, Crowborough and the villages of the Weald.
Our East Sussex office at Monkhurst House in Heathfield means our team is never far away. Your supervising social worker, your training and your support groups are all local, so you spend less time travelling and more time with the children in your care.
Lighthouse was started by foster carers and care leavers, and that shapes everything we do. We're small enough to know every carer by name, and our independent foster carer forum helps steer the direction of the agency. When you foster with us, your voice genuinely counts.
If you've been thinking about fostering in East Sussex, the first step is simply a conversation. Call our Heathfield team on 01424 320036 or request a call back, and we can even come to you for a chat over a coffee.
Who can become a foster carer in East Sussex?
People from all walks of life foster with Lighthouse, whether single, married or in a partnership, working or retired, renting or owning, and with or without children of their own. You'll usually need to be over 21, have a spare bedroom, and have the time and commitment to care for a child. Read more about fostering as a single person.
How much do foster carers get paid in East Sussex?
Lighthouse carers could receive up to £40,040 per child per year, or up to £49,660 for specialist parent and child placements, plus additional Reward Pathway payments. Most foster carers also benefit from HMRC Qualifying Care Relief. See our pay and allowances page for full details.
Which areas of East Sussex do you cover?
We welcome foster carers from across East Sussex, including Hastings, St Leonards, Bexhill, Rye, Battle, Eastbourne, Hailsham, Heathfield, Uckfield, Crowborough, Lewes, Newhaven, Seaford and the surrounding towns and villages.
Local fostering support from our Heathfield office
Fostering is a big commitment, and the support around you makes all the difference. Our Heathfield office sits at the heart of East Sussex, within easy reach of carers across Wealden, Rother, Hastings, Eastbourne and Lewes.
Every Lighthouse carer has a dedicated supervising social worker, and our social workers each bring over twenty years of experience. You'll also have access to therapists, education and placement specialists, and managers and directors who always have time to listen. Out of hours, support is only a phone call away.
Unlike some large agencies that expect you to travel for training, we make sure your training and support groups take place locally in East Sussex.
Meet our team
Foster carer pay and allowances in East Sussex
We believe foster carers should be properly rewarded for the vital work they do. Lighthouse carers in East Sussex could receive up to £40,040 a year per child, and specialist parent and child carers could receive up to £49,660 a year.
On top of this, our Reward Pathway provides additional weekly payments that recognise your skills, training and length of service. Foster carers also benefit from generous HMRC Qualifying Care Relief, which means many pay little or no tax on their fostering income.
You'll also receive birthday and holiday allowances, a school clothing payment, 20 days of paid respite a year and free membership of FosterTalk.
See pay and allowances
Types of fostering needed in East Sussex
Every child's needs are different, so we look for foster carers who can offer a range of placements, including:
- Short-term fostering: caring for a child for a few weeks or up to two years while longer-term plans are made.
- Long-term fostering: giving a child a stable home until they reach adulthood.
- Parent and child fostering: supporting a parent, usually a mum, to care for their baby or young child.
- Sibling groups: helping brothers and sisters stay together.
- Emergency and short break fostering: providing a safe place at short notice, or giving other carers a break.
- Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children: welcoming young people who have arrived in the UK alone.
We'll talk through which types of fostering suit your home, experience and family life.
Explore types of fostering
Therapeutic fostering, built on real experience
Many children in care have experienced trauma, loss or instability. That's why every Lighthouse carer is offered our 12-week therapeutic parenting course, alongside ongoing training and development.
We don't train you to be a therapist. We give you the insight and confidence to understand what a child's behaviour may be telling you, and to respond in a way that helps them feel safe. Combined with our carer-led ethos, it's an approach that helps placements last and children flourish.
Discover therapeutic fostering