Who we are
Now Foster is a team of innovative social workers, designers, and entrepreneurs who want to change how fostering is done. We work with public sector organisations across the UK to reimagine fostering and to empower brilliant foster carers to care for children and young people.
We want more people to experience the joy of fostering.
What we offer
We are keen to partner with Local Authorities and not-for-profit organisation that align with our values and wants to change how fostering can be transformed to achieve better outcomes for children and young people.
Designing new fostering initiatives:
We will work with you to design and implement innovative initiatives and programmes (like Weekenders) that make a real difference for foster carers and children.
Transforming fostering services:
We will help you to improve and transform your current services to create a better service experience for children, foster carers and professionals.
Building digital fostering products:
We have experience in designing digital products for the public sector and want to use that expertise to build technology that underpins outstanding experiences.
Our skills and expertise
We have over 20 years’ experience in public sector transformation and bring a mix of lived experience, social work expertise, and specialisation in service and digital product design.
Deep sector knowledge
We have deep public sector and fostering knowledge in the team, so we know where the system needs fixing to give children and young people better chances in life
Applied lived experience
We bring lived experience as foster carers and have a network of care-experienced advisors around us to ensure that we design the right things in the right way.
People centred design approach
We take a people centred approach to designing services and digital products that stand out and make a difference for the people we are designing for.
Meet the team
Now Foster is a team of innovative social workers, designers and entrepreneurs who want to change how fostering is done.
Sara Fernandez
CEO
"I’ve been fostering since my mid twenties and it’s been the most fun and rewarding thing I have ever done - nothing has taught more about the world and myself than being alongside children in care."
Laurie Kilby
Social Work Practice Lead
“A newly qualified foster carer, social worker and teacher are all part of who I am and encompass what I stand for. The system has been broken for so long, the time for change is NOW!”
Jan Blum
Service Design Lead
"My parents fostered when I was a kid and I loved growing up with teenagers around me. There was always an adventure. As a design professional I aim to use my skills to even the playing field as much as I can for those who have had a tougher start."
Katie Waldegrave
Partnerships Lead
“I began my career as a teacher; I know that without stability and love, it’s impossible for children to learn and thrive. Having started Now Teach - a charity to help career-changers teach - I’ve seen how many of us are seeking a greater sense of purpose”
Elle Tweedy
Digital Design Lead
"I've worked on improving the tools we give people to support children and young people over the past decade. We have a responsibility to create technology that's fit for purpose and user-centred. Foster carers and children deserve better!"
Advisors
Andy Theedom
Trustee
A Director in PwC's Local Public Services team who works with local authorities and charities across the UK, Andy brings challenge and insight based on his experience of working in and around fostering and achieving change to improve local outcomes.
Anthony Tarrant
Care Experienced Advisor
"Working with young adults is both rewarding and challenging at the same time and now working as personal adviser, I feel privileged in being able to support people on their journey in to adulthood and living independently."
Clare Chamberlain
Strategic Advisor
Experienced Director of Children’s Services and advisor to local and national organisations across the UK, Clare supports Now Foster through her wealth of practice experience and senior network in the sector.
Dominic Campbell
Strategic Advisor
Having spent his career working with government and launching startups, Dominic has a passion for developing public services fit for the digital age, above in children and families services. He is the founder of FutureGov and Impossible Ideas Inc.
Jasmine Jones
Care Experienced Advisor
"Helping people has always been my passion. As someone who has been in foster care myself I would love to make a difference!"
Jess LeWatt
Strategic Advisor
Experienced advisor to governments in Australia and the UK on organisation design and delivery of digitally enabled social services, Jess helps the Now Foster team with operations, governance and strategy. Partner in Impossible Ideas Inc.
Mary Jackson
Trustee
Chief executive of Frontline, England’s largest social work charity. She was previously on the charity’s senior team for over six years. She has 20+ years’ experience in leadership, change management and communications at operational and strategic levels
Ruth Bansende
Care Experienced Advisor
“I was once a foster child myself. I have always wanted to work with children in care and guide the foster parents who may be struggling with building a relationship with their young person.”
Tasha Unwin
Trustee
Tasha has worked as a frontline practitioner in Children's Services since 2018. She brings both this first hand knowledge, and her experience of fostering in her own family to Now Foster
Supporters
