Can I transfer to another fostering agency?

Transferring to another fostering agency is possible, but it is not an automatic change of registration. The agency you are considering must assess whether it can approve and support you, while your existing agency, the prospective agency and the relevant local authority share information and plan the move properly.

The process is different depending on your situation. A transfer may be relatively straightforward if you are approved but have no child placed with you. If you are caring for a child, additional planning is needed because the child’s stability, relationships and care plan must remain central to every decision. A transfer should never be treated simply as changing employer or moving a file from one organisation to another.

Start by speaking to the prospective agency. Ask whether it accepts transfers and what information it needs before deciding whether to proceed. You will normally be asked about:

• your current approval category and fostering experience;
• the types and ages of children you are approved to care for;
• your previous and current placements;
• training, supervision and support you have received;
• any complaints, allegations, safeguarding concerns or standards-of-care matters;
• the fostering household, including everyone who lives there; and
• your reasons for considering a move.

Be open about your fostering history. A new agency will need a complete picture, including matters that may feel difficult to discuss. Transferring does not remove previous records or avoid the need to consider safeguarding information. Accurate disclosure helps the new agency decide what support, training or further assessment may be appropriate.

Your records will usually be reviewed. With the necessary permissions, the prospective agency may request information from your current agency. This can include your original assessment, approval records, review documents, training history, supervision notes, placement information and details of any incidents or investigations. The new agency will consider these records alongside its own conversations and checks rather than relying on a simple administrative transfer.

You may not need to repeat every part of your original assessment, but the new agency must satisfy itself that you and your household remain suitable to foster. It may update checks, references, medical information, financial details, household circumstances and safer-care arrangements. It may also ask you to complete additional training or assessment where your experience, proposed approval range or support needs have changed.

Your current agency will normally need formal notice. The precise arrangements should be checked against your fostering agreement and the relevant procedures. Do not assume that an informal conversation ends your registration. Your current agency can explain what notice is required, what happens to your approval during the process and how records, payments, equipment and outstanding expenses will be dealt with.

If a child is placed with you, do not give notice before seeking professional advice. The child’s social worker, placing authority and both fostering agencies may need to be involved. They will consider whether the move is in the child’s interests, how existing relationships will be protected, who will provide supervision during the transition and whether the placement should continue under the new agency. In some cases, the best decision may be for the child to remain with the current arrangements rather than transfer immediately.

The child should be given clear, age-appropriate information about any proposed change. Their views and feelings should be considered as part of the planning. Practical matters may include school, contact with family, health appointments, transport, delegated authority, records and emergency arrangements. A written plan can help everyone understand who is responsible at each stage.

Approval is not guaranteed. The new agency may decide that it cannot offer the type of placement you want, that further assessment is needed or that your circumstances do not fit its current approval requirements. It may recommend changes to your approval terms, such as the age range, number of children or type of fostering you undertake. You should ask how the decision will be made and whether your application will go to the agency’s fostering panel or another approval decision-maker.

Before committing to a transfer, compare more than the headline payment. Ask the prospective agency to explain:

• how it supervises and reviews foster carers;
• what support is available between placements;
• how out-of-hours and emergency arrangements operate, without assuming these are the same as your current agency;
• which training is compulsory and how it is recorded;
• how allegations, complaints and safeguarding concerns are managed;
• what allowances, fees, expenses and payment conditions apply;
• what happens if a placement ends unexpectedly; and
• how the agency supports a transfer when another child is already living in the household.

It is also sensible to ask what happens if you change your mind. Find out when your application can be withdrawn, how your information will be stored and whether any costs or commitments arise before approval.

A well-managed transfer should leave you with a clear written timetable. This should identify the information to be shared, outstanding checks, training, panel or decision arrangements, notice requirements and the date on which responsibilities change. If a child is placed, it should also set out the safeguarding and care arrangements agreed with the placing authority.

If you are considering a move, you can speak to Become a Foster Family about your circumstances and ask what information may be needed to explore the next step. You remain entitled to ask questions, understand the proposed process and make an informed decision about whether another fostering agency is right for you.