Considering transferring your fostering approval?

We believe that foster carers should have the same freedom to choose who they work with as other individuals in society. When we are contacted by fostering carers who are considering moving, our general approach is as follows:

• To welcome your enquiry  and to reassure you of the confidentiality manner in which we will handle all enquiries.
• To gain an understanding of your current circumstances and the reason why you are considering moving
• To explain the various ways in which a transfer can be acheived so that any children in placement are not disrupted or otherwise adversely affected.
• To provide advice about how to manage things so that the transfer can take place as smoothly as possible -  without a break in your approval
• To meet with you to discuss possible transfer arrangements in a manner which provides you with full information about the transfer process. about how we work as an agency, our working relationships with your local authority and our ability to place children with you following transfer.
• To manage the transfer process so that the transfer  of approval proceeds smoothly  with the minimum of delay and fuss.

The transfer process

The transfer process broadly works as follows:

• We meet with you to informally discuss your plans to move
• If you decide to transfer, we delay contacting your current agency until you have had the chance to talk with relevant staff and managers about your plans
• We meet with your current agency to discuss and agree transfer arrangements - including the timing of your proposed move and how to effect the transfer so that any children in placement are not disrupted or distressed by the change in agency arrangements
• One of our social workers will visit you to draft a new form F homestudy report. This process is likely to take less time than before because we will need to spend less time on ensuring that you understand the fostering task if you are already fostering
• We present your report to our fostering panel to seek in principle agreement to your approval
• We agree with you and your current agency the date at which this new approval will come into effect and the date the old approval will end
  
• We confirm with you, any children in placement and their social workers that the transfer is now completed!

Interested? If so, you can obtain further information about transferring by:

• Requesting an information pack
• Emailing your queries to us

We will welcome your enquiry and do our very best to assist you. Any information that you share with us will be treated as highly confidential.