Credo Care

What Credo Care does

Credo Care Ltd is a UK private independent fostering agency founded in 2000 and headquartered in Lydd, Kent. It operates as the UK's first dedicated disability specialist fostering agency, providing long-term, short-term, and respite foster care placements exclusively for children with disabilities, autism, complex medical needs, and life-limiting conditions. The company serves UK local authorities that commission specialist placements for children in their care, and recruits, trains, and supports foster carers who provide care in their own homes. Geographic coverage extends across the South, Midlands, and East of England, supported by eight regional meeting points and a layered management structure (Managing Director Richard Powell, Chair The Right Reverend Dr Damien Mead, Director and co-founder Roy Hipkiss, plus regional team managers and in-house clinical specialists).

Credo Care's core product is the matching and ongoing support of specialist foster placements, augmented by a small set of add-on programmes including an AQA Unit Awards programme (as a recognised AQA centre), Duke of Edinburgh's Award delivery (as a licensed organisation), and The Home Improvers Group participation forum. An online portal at portal.credocare.co.uk provides operational tooling for foster carers and support workers. The technology footprint is light: no AI/ML capabilities, no public API, and no mobile applications. Specialist clinical capacity is delivered through in-house autism and behaviour specialists, nurse trainers, and senior practitioners rather than through software.

Revenue is generated on a managed services basis: local authorities pay Credo Care for foster placements, and the agency in turn pays fostering allowances to self-employed foster carers, structured on a tiered weekly schedule ranging from £27,976 per year (new carer, one child) up to £98,280 per year (NVQ/Diploma-qualified carer, three children), with £290 per week designated as the tax-free child-care element. Distribution is sales-led via direct engagement with local authority social work teams and a multi-channel recruitment engine targeting prospective foster carers (website, social media, NHS App referrals, community information sessions, leaflets, and word-of-mouth). The agency's go-to-market is anchored by an Ofsted Outstanding rating (February 2026 - first for a UK disability specialist agency), the National Autistic Society's Autism Specialist accreditation, and 25 years of category-defining brand presence.

Name

Credo Care

Legal name

Credo Care Ltd

Website

https://credocare.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Credo Care is the UK's first dedicated disability specialist fostering agency, founded in 2000 and rated Outstanding by Ofsted (Feb 2026). It provides long-term, short-term, and respite foster placements for children with disabilities, autism, and complex medical needs, serving local authorities across the South, Midlands, and East of England.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialist Fostering Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Nanny Agency / Placement Services (HSAAABAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Special Needs Nanny Services (HSAAABAL), Respite Care for Adults with Disabilities / Special Needs (HSABAGAI)

Keywords

• Disability foster care
• Specialist fostering agency
• Complex medical needs care
• Autism support services
• Respite foster care

Headquarters

HQ city

Lydd

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel

Revenue model

1. Fostering Services to Local Authorities: Credo Care provides specialist foster care placements for children with disabilities, complex medical needs, and life-limiting conditions to local authorities. They receive funding from local authorities in exchange for matching children with trained and supported foster carers. The agency pays fostering allowances to carers from these funds.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels14 records

Core offering

Credo Care is the UK's first independent disability specialist fostering agency, recruiting, training and supporting foster carers who provide long-term, short-term, respite and short-breaks placements for children and young people (0-18) with disabilities, autism, complex medical needs and life-limiting conditions. Placements are commissioned by local authorities and delivered through self-employed foster carers operating from their own homes across the South, Midlands and East of England.

Product overview

Credo Care is a specialist fostering agency providing a comprehensive range of services for children with disabilities, autism, and complex medical needs. Their core offering consists of disability specialist fostering services including long-term, short-term, and respite care placements. The agency operates additional support programs including the AQA Unit Awards, Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme, and The Home Improvers Group for youth participation. They provide an online portal for carers and support workers. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Lydd, Kent, the agency operates across South, Midlands, and East of England.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Disability Specialist Fostering Services Specialist fostering placements for children with disabilities, complex medical needs and life-limiting conditions, delivered via trained and supported foster carers across the South, Midlands and East of England and commissioned by local authorities.
• Autism Support Services Specialist autism support for looked-after children, including behaviour and sensory assessments, bespoke training for foster carers and behaviour support plans, underpinned by the agency's Autism Specialist status from the National Autistic Society.
• Complex Medical Needs Care Foster placements for babies, children and young people with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions, including palliative care support delivered by specially trained foster carers with in-house nurse trainer input.
• Short Breaks and Respite Care Respite and short-breaks fostering placements that give foster carers up to 21 nights off per year and offer disabled children regular family-based short breaks.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ofsted Outstanding rating across all categories - February 2026
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DesignabilitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Designability is an inclusive design charity that created the Wizzybug, a powered wheelchair for young children aged 2-5 with disabilities. Credo Care has partnered with them to provide mobility solutions that promote independence for children in their care. The partnership supports inclusion and early development through powered mobility devices.
• AerobilityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Aerobility is a charity that provides flying experiences for disabled people. Credo Care partnered with them to champion ability beyond disability and offer unique opportunities to children in their care.
• Together for Short LivescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Together for Short Lives is the UK's leading charity for children with life-limiting conditions. Credo Care participated in a national webinar with them on palliative care and fostering, featuring Managing Director Richard Powell and foster carer Sue. The webinar highlighted the unique role of foster carers in providing palliative care within family settings.
• The Credo Care FoundationcoreOthers · 1 May 2026Newly established charity (registered number 1178132) founded by Chairman Damien Mead and Roy Hipkiss. The foundation aims to protect and extend the spirit in which Credo Care was founded, support those who care, strengthen opportunity, and keep disabled children and young people at the centre of their mission.
• Waitrose Community MattersminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Waitrose Community Matters supported Credo Care's Memory Making Initiative through their Green Token Scheme. Funds raised support opportunities for children to take part in special experiences and outings. Managing Director Richard Powell expressed gratitude for the community support.
• National Autistic SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Credo Care has been awarded Autism Specialist status by The National Autistic Society, the UK's leading charity for autistic people and their families. This accreditation validates the agency's specialist capabilities in providing care and support for autistic children in foster care. Managing Director Richard Powell stated this achievement showcases the care and support offered by the agency to those with autism.
• Foster TalkcoreOthersCredo Care provides membership to Foster Talk for all foster carers as part of their support package. Foster Talk is a leading fostering organization providing support, advice, and advocacy for foster carers.
• AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCredo Care is a recognized centre for AQA, an awarding body in England. This enables them to offer children and young people in their care the opportunity to work towards AQA Unit Awards, recognizing achievements across academic subjects and life skills. Over 12,000 units are available from pre-entry level up to level 5. Young people receive certificates, badges, and rosettes for achievements.
• The Duke of Edinburgh's AwardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCredo Care is a licensed organization for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme, which allows young people aged 14-24 to develop through four sections: Physical, Skill, Volunteering, and Expedition. The award is tailored for children with disabilities, with adjustments made to accommodate difficulties. So far, 7 young people have achieved Bronze and 1 has achieved Silver Award. Chairman Damien Mead attended the 70th anniversary celebration at Buckingham Palace.
• Council For Disabled ChildrenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Council For Disabled Children, the leading organization for disabled children in England, providing access to resources and expertise.
• NAFP (National Association of Fostering Providers)minorOthersPartnership with NAFP, the professional association for fostering providers.
• CoramBAAFminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with CoramBAAF, a leading charity in the UK working in the field of adoption and fostering.
• Disabled Children's PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Disabled Children's Partnership, a coalition of organizations working to improve the lives of disabled children.
• Disability ConfidentminorOthersCredo Care is a Disability Confident employer, committed to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
• The Fostering NetworkminorOthersPartnership with The Fostering Network, the UK's leading fostering charity.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Polaris Community Services: Specialist UK independent fostering agency serving local authorities, including placements for children with disabilities and complex needs. Closest direct peer given overlapping specialism and customer base.
• TACT (The Adolescent and Children's Trust): Charitable fostering agency operating across the UK, placing children with local authorities. Comparable agency model and customer base; overlap in regions and in the types of children placed (including those with complex needs).
• Compass Community: UK independent fostering and children's services provider, part of the same broader competitive set as Credo Care. Similar agency model, comparable funding from local authorities, and overlapping regional presence.
• Five Rivers Child Care: Independent fostering and residential care provider in the UK, serving local authorities across multiple regions. Comparable business model and customer base; competes for similar placements of children with complex needs.
• Foster Care Associates: Established UK independent fostering agency serving local authorities with a diverse carer network. Direct competitor on the agency model and customer base, though less specialised in disability than Credo Care.
• National Fostering Group: One of the largest independent fostering agencies in the UK, operating across multiple regions and providing placements to local authorities. Directly comparable business model (agency recruiting foster carers, paid by local authorities per placement), with overlapping regions.

Broad incumbents

• Action for Children: One of the UK's largest children's charities operating fostering services nationwide, including placements for children with additional needs. Comparable as a UK-wide fostering agency serving local authority commissioners, though broader in scope than Credo Care's disability specialism.
• Barnardo's: Major UK children's charity running fostering services across many regions, including disability/specialist placements. Compares on customer base (local authorities) and revenue model, but operates as a broad charity rather than a disability-focused specialist.

Others

• Together for Short Lives: UK charity for children with life-limiting conditions. Not a direct competitor but a thematic partner of Credo Care; comparable in serving the same population through complementary (non-placement) services.
• National Autistic Society: UK charity providing autism services and accreditation. Partner of Credo Care rather than competitor; comparable in serving the autistic community through different service models.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/credocare
• YouTubeyoutube.com/credocare
• Facebookfacebook.com/CredoCare
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/credo-care
• Instagraminstagram.com/credo_care_fostering

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Credo Care