Children say foster parents are their 'rock' as agency is Ofsted Outstanding
A fostering agency where ‘children do exceptionally well’ has received an ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted rating following its latest inspection in February 2026.
Foster parents at Foster Care Associates (FCA) South Western, in Exeter were praised for being ‘fierce advocates’ for children in their care and for ensuring children’s stability in their homes.
The report highlighted the agency’s therapist who supports foster parents, staff and children and young people, describing their input as ‘invaluable in helping them develop practical, bespoke strategies that make a positive difference.’
Support from the therapist helped one sibling pair who had a harmful relationship when they moved to their foster parent’s home to develop a healthy bond, enabling them to stay together.
Children cared for by FCA were ‘very positive’ and felt comfortable communicating and raising any concerns. Children’s praise for their foster parents included: “She’s my rock,” and “I can be me because of [name of carer].”
The inspector commended FCA foster parents on strong relationships built with children and for the way they ‘quickly establish routines and boundaries to help them thrive.’
Karen and Wayne have been fostering with FCA South Western for five years, Karen said: “With FCA you get a brilliant network of people around you, there’s always therapeutic support, and they’re always there when you need them. FCA really is a wonderful agency to work with.
“We had a little girl placed with us and it actually gives me goosebumps to talk about her journey. From the moment she arrived to when she left she became a totally different little girl. Watching that transformation was just incredible.”
The effectiveness of leaders in the agency was rated outstanding. The agency has consistently improved since 2019 when it ‘Required Improvement’, achieving a ‘Good’ in 2023 and now becoming Outstanding.
Naomi Pollard has been registered manager at FCA South Western since 2023, she said: “The power of foster care is an incredible thing which we are fortunate to see the positive effects of everyday. All of our staff and foster parents should feel very proud of the work we’re doing to transform the lives of children and young people in the local area.
“There are still lots of myths and misconceptions surrounding fostering, but we’re welcoming anyone interested in making a difference to children’s lives in the local area to please get in touch to find out more about the foster care journey.”
Children and foster parents receive tailored support from the agency, including help and guidance during fostering challenges, an out-of-hours service, monthly reflective groups, and support from therapeutic practitioners.
At the time of the inspection, the agency was caring for 99 children who were unable to live with their own families across emergency, short-term, permanent and some parent-and-child placements.
There is a shortage of almost 7,000 foster parents across the UK, but FCA South Western has continued to grow its team over the last few years.
There are currently 849 children in care in Devon according to the latest government statistics. For more information on fostering with FCA in Exeter visit the website https://www.thefca.co.uk/locations/devon/ or call 01752 697300.
