Transferring Fostering Agencies
All foster carers have the right to freedom of movement between fostering services. Find out more about transferring foster agency.
Thinking of transferring fostering agency? As an existing foster carer, you’ll be familiar with the application process. We’ll start with a chat on the phone to talk about your situation and why you’re thinking of transferring. We’re confident in saying the support we can offer you is hard to beat. Many foster carers have changed fostering agency to join Family Care, so you’ll be in good company.
If you wish, we can arrange a call with one of our foster carers to talk about the transferring process and what it’s like to foster with us.
Speak with a member of our fostering team today for more information.
"Once placed, a child is not removed from a foster carer who is willing and able to continue caring for the child, unless that is in their best interests, taking the child’s current wishes and feelings into account, and decided through the child’s care planning process” Fostering Services National Minimum Standards and The Children Act 1989.
Thinking of transferring fostering agency? As an existing foster carer, you’ll be familiar with the application process. We’ll start with a chat on the phone to talk about your situation and why you’re thinking of transferring. We’re confident in saying the support we can offer you is hard to beat. Many foster carers have changed fostering agency to join Family Care, so you’ll be in good company.
If you wish, we can arrange a call with one of our foster carers to talk about the transferring process and what it’s like to foster with us.
Speak with a member of our fostering team today for more information.
“Once placed, a child is not removed from a foster carer who is willing and able to continue caring for the child, unless that is in their best interests, taking the child’s current wishes and feelings into account, and decided through the child’s care planning process” Fostering Services National Minimum Standards and The Children Act 1989.
For foster carers wishing to change agency there are transfer protocols in place. Produced by the Fostering Network, the transfer protocol is reviewed and revised at regular intervals. It is compliant with Fostering England regulations (2011) and supported by the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS).
The guiding principles of the transfer protocol serve to reinforce the ethos of child-centred care planning and child-centred decision making. Financial factors alone should never determine a placement move.
Call 0800 5 677 677 and find out what you need to know about fostering with Family Care.
For foster carers wishing to change agency there are transfer protocols in place. Produced by the Fostering Network, the transfer protocol is reviewed and revised at regular intervals. It is compliant with Fostering England regulations (2011) and supported by the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS).
The guiding principles of the transfer protocol serve to reinforce the ethos of child-centred care planning and child-centred decision making. Financial factors alone should never determine a placement move.
Call 0800 5 677 677 and find out what you need to know about fostering with Family Care.
There are six principles governing the transfer of foster carers in England. As a foster carer interested in transferring agencies, we have highlighted the principles that we feel are most important to you:
Foster carers are classed as self-employed and all foster carers have the right to move to a new service if they wish to.
Children should remain with their foster family unless it is deemed not in their best interests, and the responsible authority cannot terminate a placement unless it has been considered by a case review.
The primary consideration in all transfers must be the welfare of the child as enshrined in the Children Act 1989.
The welfare of any child in placement is paramount.
New carers are crucial to support the growing number of children in care.
Services should be regulated by Ofsted and comply with the above.
“Financial factors should not determine a placement move” Principles governing the transfer of foster carers, 2015
We understand moving foster agency won’t be a decision made lightly. There will be many things you want to know before you can confidently make that decision, and right at the heart of those will be the child in your care.
Below we have outlined the basic procedure for moving foster agency where there is a child in the home, and where there is not.
Procedure where a child is in the foster home
After you’ve spoken with your next agency and have completed the home visit, you should inform your current fostering service and the placing authority/authorities in writing that you are considering a move. This is commonly referred to as a ‘notice of intent to resign’. Once notice of intent has been provided, the next agency can begin their assessment.
Upon receipt on the notice of intent, the placing authority must inform the child’s Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) of the intended change and convene a transfer-protocol meeting within 28-days.
Procedure where there is no child in the foster home
Once the home visit is complete, you must inform your current agency in writing that you are considering a move. This is commonly referred to as a ‘notice of intent to resign’. Once notice of intent has been provided, the next agency can begin their assessment.
When the assessment is complete and the outcome is to seek approval, you must give written notice of resignation to your current service. Your approval with the current service will be terminated 28 days after written notice of resignation has been submitted. If there is no child in the home, this notice period can often be waived.
Regardless of which service you decide to foster with, you should be receiving the right support along the way. Read about the support we offer and see how this compares to your current agency.
We understand moving foster agency won’t be a decision made lightly. There will be many things you want to know before you can confidently make that decision, and right at the heart of those will be the child in your care.
Below we have outlined the basic procedure for moving foster agency where there is a child in the home, and where there is not.
Procedure where a child is in the foster home
After you’ve spoken with your next agency and have completed the home visit, you should inform your current fostering service and the placing authority/authorities in writing that you are considering a move. This is commonly referred to as a ‘notice of intent to resign’. Once notice of intent has been provided, the next agency can begin their assessment.
Upon receipt on the notice of intent, the placing authority must inform the child’s Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) of the intended change and convene a transfer-protocol meeting within 28-days.
Procedure where there is no child in the foster home
Once the home visit is complete, you must inform your current agency in writing that you are considering a move. This is commonly referred to as a ‘notice of intent to resign’. Once notice of intent has been provided, the next agency can begin their assessment.
When the assessment is complete and the outcome is to seek approval, you must give written notice of resignation to your current service. Your approval with the current service will be terminated 28 days after written notice of resignation has been submitted. If there is no child in the home, this notice period can often be waived.
Regardless of which service you decide to foster with, you should be receiving the right support along the way. Read about the support we offer and see how this compares to your current agency.
