Fostering & adoptions

At Tower Hamlets we recognise that all children need the opportunity to develop to their full potential educationally, emotionally, physically and socially. Given the right chances, support and love, children can play a full and active part in the life of the community.

But we also know that some children have been neglected and abused and are in need of a secure family environment whether through fostering or adoption. For those reasons, Tower Hamlets is very keen to build a strong pool of foster carers and adoptive parents.

Fostering is caring for someone else's children in your home. You will share the children's care with their parents and with the council. This is how fostering differs from adoption where you become the legal parent of the child.

Adoption is a way of providing a new family for a child when living with their birth family isn't possible. The arrangement becomes legally binding when a court makes an adoption order. When that's done, the law will recognise you as the child's legal and only parent.

Tower Hamlets Social Services facilitates fostering and is an adoption agency. Our Family Placements Service is responsible for recruiting, preparing and assessing people who would like to foster or adopt. Once approved, we will provide you with support and training to help you with your role.

To find out more about fostering and adoption contact:

Children's Social Care
Recruitment and Assessment Team
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
3rd Floor, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent
London E14 2BG
tel: 0800 279 9850
email adoption: adoption@towerhamlets.gov.uk
email fostering: fostering@towerhamlets.gov.uk

Visit the Tower Hamlets fostering and adoption website: www.fosteringandadoption.co.uk