How to switch fostering agency
Follow these steps if you wish to move to another fostering agency:
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Check that you’ve taken appropriate steps to resolve any issues with your current agency. Every agency has a complaints and allegations policy which you should review before you move.
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Contact a new agency. There is no limit to how many new potential agencies you speak with and they can’t contact your current agency without your consent.
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Confirm the fees you would receive if you move agencies. Some agencies have a scale that is applied to foster carers fees; you may be able to negotiate fees with some agencies, but be mindful that this will become tiresome for you if you feel the need to negotiate each time a child joins your home. Sparks Fostering contacts the child’s local authority before proceeding with transfer and, unusually for the sector, tells the foster carer how much the local authority has agreed to pay if the foster carer transfers to the agency. Sparks Fostering gives foster carers 50% of the local authority fee (the sector average is 40%) and also provides generous allowances.
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Once you’ve picked an agency to transfer to, the new agency will need a copy of your fostering assessment, all fostering review paperwork and any other relevant documentation. The new agency can formally request the documents from your previous agency.
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If you’re already looking after children under a fostering arrangement, both fostering providers (current and new) and the local authority will arrange a meeting to discuss how the transfer can occur with minimal disruption to the children.
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You won’t give notice to your current agency until the new agency has completed it’s own assessment and booked panel. Once you give notice, your registration with the current agency automatically terminates after 28 days. Your new agency must arrange to approve you the day after your approval with your current agency terminates. The approval decision is made by the agency decision maker, so panel must be in advance of the date of approval termination with the current agency.
