6 signs you know it’s time to transfer foster agency

Transferring fostering agencies is the best way to ensure you feel happy and supported all while continuing to change vulnerable children’s lives.

If you’re unsure how to transfer foster care agency or what the transfer process is, then don’t worry. In this guide, we’ll share the signs it’s time to switch, and how to do it easily.

Signs it’s time to transfer foster care agency

1. You’re not getting treated like an equal member of the team

   Fostering isn’t a single-player endeavor. It’s a team effort that involves you, your foster child, and your agency. Because fostering is a journey, you should never feel alone. Your agency needs to be with you every step of the way, responding to your needs with a friendly ear, offering training, and any resource you need to feel confident and comfortable.

   When you don’t feel like part of the team, it can make you feel disappointed and out of your depth.

   At FCA, we always listen to our foster parents but also the children they look after. We do this through our Children’s Participation teams, who are specifically there to engage with our foster children so that everyone’s voices are heard. This involving and empowering culture ensures everyone is valued and treated with respect. Something we actively strive towards each and every day.

2. Lack of support

   Great support from a foster agency gives you a positive fostering experience. It fills you with confidence and allows you to provide the highest level of care for your child.

   This support should always be available to you, whenever you need it. Through phone calls, home visits, drop-in visits, and appointments with the agency.

   If you find yourself constantly frustrated and alone through a lack of support from your current agency, then you should consider transferring.

3. Insufficient financial support

   Fostering is a full-time job, and for a lot of foster parents it’s their only job. As such, the financial support needs to be sufficient for both caring for your child and giving you the lifestyle you want.

   When you’re not receiving the pay and carer benefits you need from your agency, or you’re finding yourself using your own resources, then switching to an agency that rewards their foster parents appropriately might be the answer you’re looking for.

   We appreciate how much our foster parents do for the children in their care, and such, we reward them accordingly. From generous foster allowances and additional bonuses, you’ll never feel out of pocket when caring for a child.

4. A lack of placements

   If you find yourself with a lack of placements, then it might be time to switch agencies. After all, you chose this vocation because you want to help children in need.

   If the placements aren’t coming in, then you’ll find yourself in a bit of a bind. You also don’t get paid when you don’t have a child in your care. This might leave you questioning if fostering is still a viable option for you.

   It could be that your current fostering agency isn’t expertly matching you with suitable children to care for. At FCA, this is a fundamental part of our process to ensure both the child and the foster family can work together harmoniously to bring about positive change. We also work extremely closely with the local authorities and have strong relationships all over the UK. This large reach enables us to connect families with the right children, who go on to make strides in the right direction.

5. No respite

   Fostering is an incredibly rewarding thing to do with your life, but it can also be challenging and exhausting.

   That’s why a lot of agencies offer respite care for their foster parents. This is when a set amount of days or weeks are given where your foster child is placed with another family for a short time while you enjoy a well-deserved break. If your current agency doesn’t provide this and you’re feeling burned out, you may want to consider moving to an agency that wants its foster parents relax and recharge. We offer a minimum of 14 nights paid respite a year – and that’s just one of the benefits of fostering with FCA.

6. Not enough training

   When you become a foster parent, it’s not enough to be a loving and caring person. You also need the right training to give your foster children the best care and support. Especially as every child is unique and has their own individual struggles.

   This training should always come from your foster agency, which wants the best for you and the child. Training is vital for supporting all children, especially if they have additional physical or mental needs.