How long does transferring fostering agencies take?

Transferring to a new fostering agency usually takes several weeks or months, depending on the arrangements for any children in placement, the notice requirements in your fostering agreement and how quickly the relevant information can be shared and reviewed. The transfer should be planned carefully so that your approval, records, support and the child’s care arrangements remain properly coordinated.

The main stages are:

• Exploring the move: Speak confidentially with potential new agencies to understand their approval process, support arrangements, training offer, fostering allowance and approach to transfers. You can make enquiries before formally notifying your current agency.
• Choosing a new agency: The prospective agency will need to understand your fostering history, current approval, household circumstances, training and any children placed with you. This helps it assess whether it can meet your needs and provide suitable support.
• Giving formal notice: Once you decide to proceed, you will normally need to give notice to your current agency in line with your fostering agreement and the relevant fostering procedures. The notice period is an important part of the timescale and should be confirmed in writing.
• Sharing records and information: Your current agency and the new agency will arrange the transfer of key documents. These may include your assessment, approval details, reviews, training record, health information, household details, allegations or complaints history where relevant, and information about current or previous placements. Delays can occur if records are incomplete or further clarification is needed.
• Planning the handover: Where a child is living with you, the agencies, placing authority and other professionals must agree how support and financial arrangements will continue during the move. The child’s stability and welfare should remain central to every decision.
• Completing the new agency’s checks: Your new agency may need to carry out updated checks, references, household visits or other enquiries. This does not necessarily mean your whole fostering assessment will be repeated, but the agency must have enough current information to make a safe and lawful decision about approval.
• Confirming approval and support: Before the transfer is complete, agree who your supervising social worker will be, how supervision will be provided, which training is required and how to contact the agency about safeguarding or placement concerns. Obtain confirmation of the transfer arrangements and any changes to your approval in writing.

Transfers involving a child in placement can take longer. They require more coordination than a transfer where no child is placed with you. The child’s social worker, the placing authority, your current agency and the prospective agency may all need to contribute to the plan. A transfer should not be treated as a purely administrative change: everyone needs to be clear about supervision, delegated authority, contact arrangements, records, payments and what happens if the placement becomes unsettled.

If you are still being assessed, the process may be different. You should ask both agencies whether your existing assessment can be shared and continued, or whether the new agency needs to undertake further work. The decision will depend on how complete the assessment is, whether your circumstances have changed and the new agency’s requirements.

You can help prevent avoidable delays by keeping copies of your fostering agreements, approval notices, review records, training certificates and relevant correspondence. Tell the prospective agency about any changes to your household, health, employment, relationships or living arrangements, and be open about any current placement issues, complaints or safeguarding matters. Withholding information can create greater delays later and may affect whether the new agency can proceed.

Before handing in notice, ask for a written transfer plan. It should set out the expected sequence, information each agency will provide, the people responsible for each step, how your supervising social worker will change, what training remains outstanding and how allowances will be dealt with during the transition. If the proposed timescale is unclear, ask both agencies to explain what is preventing progress and what information is still needed.

Become A Foster Family can explain the transfer process and help you understand what information will be needed when moving to a new agency. A clear conversation at the start will help you judge whether the timescale is realistic for your circumstances and whether the proposed support is suitable for you and any child placed with you.