The NEST (Nurturing, Empathetic and Supporting Transitions) Fostering Scheme is an initiative designed to provide stable, nurturing, and therapeutically informed foster homes for children and young people with complex needs. The scheme combines specialist training, enhanced levels of support, and a community-based approach to ensure that carers and children receive comprehensive assistance throughout the fostering journey.

2. Purpose of the Scheme

The NEST scheme aims to:

Offer safe, nurturing foster placements for children who require high levels of emotional and relational support;
Equip foster carers with specialist therapeutic training to meet the needs of children who may display significant levels of distress and dysregulation;
Facilitate long-term foster placements for children currently living in residential settings where fostering is assessed to be in their best interests.

3. Support and Financial Arrangements

NEST foster carers receive a robust support package comprising:

3.1 Professional Support

Senior Practitioner Support: Fortnightly meetings during the first six months of placement;
Therapeutic Support Sessions: Access to group and individual sessions led by a Therapeutic Parenting Practitioner;
Tailored Training: An eight week‑ individual therapeutic parenting training programme with ongoing support;
Outreach Team: Access to support from an outreach team, including out of‑ hours assistance;
Peer Support: Regular opportunities for support from experienced foster carers, including carers who provide planned sleepovers.

3.2 Financial Support

Skills Payment: £1,500 per week (Full details of payment can be found in Approved foster carers - payment policy 2025-26 | Hertfordshire County Council);
Age related‑ Allowance: Paid for each child placed;
Additional Expenses: Mileage and other approved costs reimbursed.

4. Expectations of NEST Foster Carers

Carers participating in the NEST scheme are expected to:

Provide high quality‑, therapeutic care that offers acceptance, warmth, and stability to children experiencing emotional dysregulation;
Commit to unconditional stability, including during periods of crisis or heightened stress;
Support children who may have difficulty attending or engaging in education;
Work collaboratively with birth families, social workers, and other professionals;
Participate actively in the NEST community through support groups, events, and training;
Contribute to scheme development, including mentoring prospective or newly approved carers.

5. Identification and Referral of Children

There is no direct referral mechanism for the NEST scheme. Children are identified by senior management within Children Looked After (CLA), Residential services and Fostering services based on the following criteria:

The child or young person is settled in a residential placement;
A move to fostering is assessed as being in their best interests, taking into account their views and wishes;
There is no current plan for the child to return to their birth family;
The child’s care plan is long-term‑ fostering, and they are subject to a Full Care Order;
Consideration can be made for children currently in foster carer who has a care plan of residential care and a move to NEST fostering will prevent the child moving to residential.

6. Matching Process

6.1 Initial Steps

Initial discussions occur between Child’s social work team and the NEST team;
Carers are provided with anonymised child profiles, including prospective carers still undergoing assessment;
Contact is made with the child’s social worker to obtain an updated PRF (Placement Referral Form) if the existing form is older than three months;
A pre-matching‑ meeting is arranged and attended by NEST staff and CLA representatives.

6.2 Pre-Matching Considerations

The following factors must be explored:

Geographical Factors: Impact on school attendance, proximity to birth family, and any areas the young person should avoid;
Housing Suitability: Bedroom availability, accessibility needs, and considerations for sibling groups;
Ethnicity and Culture: Whether the carer’s background supports the child’s cultural needs and whether any concerns arise;
Family Time Arrangements: Feasibility of the carer facilitating required family time;
Additional Needs: Health issues, education needs, SEND needs, risks, pets, and transport requirements.

Following this stage, the CLA social worker meets with the foster carers. A joint visit to the child may also be considered.

6.3 Further Information Gathering

If the match progresses:

A NEST Outreach Worker completes an information gathering‑ questionnaire with the residential key worker and obtains relevant documents (e.g., daily living plans);
Carers may visit the residential home when the child is not present;
A trauma timeline is developed and presented to carers, with contributions from NEST staff, CLA, and residential key workers;
Separate discussions are held with:

Virtual School regarding educational needs;
CAMHS Targeted Team to determine service involvement or potential support.

A scheduled midway review meeting;
Involvement of the birth family, where appropriate;
Identification of a key supportive person within the carers’ network;
Important dates for the child and carers;
The child school schedule;
Timing and approach for introducing the NEST Outreach Worker;
Practical arrangements for moving belongings, including appropriate luggage;
Date for the Placement Planning Meeting (to take place within 72 hours of placement).

7.3 Preparation with the Young Person

The child’s social worker meets with the young person to outline the plan and share the carers’ Child Friendly Profile;
The NEST Outreach Worker meets the child alongside their residential key worker to introduce the scheme and address questions;
Use of the NEST All About Me Booklet is encouraged where the child wishes to share information with their carers.

8. Post Placement Requirements

Once the child moves into the foster home:

Safer Caring Plan and Health and Safety Assessments must be updated;
The Delegated Authority Agreement is completed during the Placement Planning Meeting;
The child’s participation in these processes should be supported where appropriate and in line with their wishes and needs.

Last Updated: May 21, 2026

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