How can I verify a fostering provider’s current registration status?

A fostering provider’s current registration status should be verified through the relevant independent regulator, using the regulator’s latest published information rather than relying solely on a provider’s own description. In England, this normally means checking Ofsted’s records for an independent fostering agency and confirming that the entry relates to the service you intend to use.

Check the status and not just the organisation’s name. A provider may have changed its trading name, ownership, registered office or operating arrangements. Look at the wording used in the regulator’s record, including whether the service is currently registered and whether any enforcement action or restriction is shown. If the record is unclear, ask the regulator for clarification before progressing with an application.

It is also important to establish which type of fostering service you are considering:

• Independent fostering agencies: these are regulated and inspected by Ofsted in England.
• Local authority fostering services: these form part of a council and are assessed through the regulatory and inspection arrangements that apply to local authorities, rather than being independent agencies.
• Services outside England: different regulators apply in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, so use the regulator for the nation in which the provider operates.

Check the date of the information. A registration entry and an inspection report are not the same thing. Registration confirms that the provider is on the regulator’s register; it does not necessarily tell you how the service is performing today or whether its policies have changed since the last inspection. Read the most recent inspection report separately and note its publication date, findings and any areas requiring improvement.

You can ask the provider for practical evidence to support your checks, such as:

• its formal registered name and any trading name it uses;
• its registration number or other regulator reference;
• the date of its latest inspection;
• details of any change in ownership, management or service structure; and
• an explanation of any restriction, enforcement notice or other qualification shown in the regulator’s information.

Compare the answers with the regulator’s published record. A registration number that cannot be found, a material difference in the service description, or reluctance to explain an apparent discrepancy should be treated as a reason to pause and investigate. Do not assume that a provider is unregistered simply because its website uses a different trading name; ask how that name relates to the registered organisation and verify the explanation independently.

Registration is a legal and regulatory requirement, but it is not an endorsement of every aspect of a provider’s service. It does not by itself confirm that the provider will be the right fit for your household, guarantee a particular level of support or allowance, or mean that every foster carer application will be approved. You should also ask about the assessment process, required training, supervision, out-of-hours arrangements where relevant, complaints procedure, safeguarding practice and how foster carers are supported after approval.

Keep a note of the regulator’s record, the date you checked it and the answers supplied by the provider. Registration can change, so repeat the check if there is a significant delay before applying or if the provider tells you that its legal structure or ownership has changed. These checks give you a more reliable basis for deciding whether to continue, while the provider’s assessment process determines whether fostering is suitable for your household.