Are you thinking about switching from a fostering agency to a local authority (LA) fostering service? Maybe you'd like to move between local authorities? Here you'll find everything you need to know about how you can transfer quickly and easily with our support at Foster with us.
Who can transfer
- Families who are moving home and want to register with another local authority
- Foster carers who want to move from an Independent Fostering Agency (IFA)
- People who have fostered with a local authority before, and want to return
We are here to make your transfer as quick, easy and simple as possible.
Why foster carers transfer
Foster carers transfer for a number of reasons. You might have struggled getting suitable matches through a fostering agency. Maybe you're finding you have gaps between fostering and need more stability. Perhaps over time, you've found your current service isn't right for you or you want to directly help the community around you. Foster with us can help you with all of this.
We urgently need more foster carers for children and young people of all ages in our areas, but particularly for siblings, teenagers, children with additional needs or disabilities and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.
Could you share your home to shape their future? You don't need to be a full time foster carer to transfer to us. We need emergency and short break foster carers too.
Transferring with Foster with us
Our fostering hub advisers have lots of experience supporting foster carers through the transfer process, meaning we can offer high levels of support to transferring, new and returning foster carers.
Why foster with us?
• Our foster carer buddy scheme welcomes and supports carers who are new to our community
• We've extended the Mockingbird family model of fostering support across all council partners in Foster with us
• There are lots of events, activities and support groups for the fostering community, organised by your local council
Your simple 5-step transfer process
Transferring to a Local Authority through Foster with us is easier and quicker than your original approval.
1) Contact us
Call us on 0300 0190 200, or request a call back. When you contact us, one of our experienced advisors will get in touch on a day and time that suits you to explore if a move is right for you.
2) Start your transfer
When you decide to start the transfer process, the appropriate local authority will allocate you a fostering social worker. The social worker will work with you to update your assessment. They will also contact your current agency to discuss the timing of your transfer. We will plan the timing to avoid disruption to any children you care for.
3) Your faster fostering assessment
Your social worker will visit you at home on a day and time to suit you and update your assessment information. We will include all your valuable fostering experience. This will be a quicker process than your last assessment.
4) The fostering panel
A fostering panel will then review your updated assessment and make a recommendation about your approval.
5) Setting your start date
After formal approval, the local authority and your agency or old local authority will jointly agree the end date or your agency approval. We will also agree the date your new local authority approval will start.
Get in touch
Our team of fostering experts are always on hand to help. Speak to our fostering hub co-ordinators to find out more about the benefits of transferring to us.