Many foster carers have chosen to transfer to local authority fostering, after starting out with a private fostering agency. Choosing to foster is a big decision, and part of that decision is who to foster with. There are three different types of fostering service: Local authority, Charity, and Private agency.
As your local authority fostering service, your local council, we are not-for-profit and we never will be. Our aim is to provide care and stability for our local children, by ensuring we have dedicated and committed foster carers. Our number one priority is the wellbeing and futures of these children that really need our help.
Could you foster with your local authority?
There are many different perceptions about local authority fostering vs fostering for an independent agency. Foster Carers Amanda and Andrew started fostering with an agency before deciding to transfer to foster wales RCT.
Below are their 5 reasons why:
- Realising the difference between fostering agencies
- Long gaps between fostering children
- Greater flexibility in local authority fostering
- Support and rewards of fostering
- No regrets of fostering with local authority
1 realising the difference between fostering agencies
“I heard an advert on the radio back in 2009 regarding fostering with a fostering agency. We registered for an information pack but didn’t go any further until a year later and we decided the time was right.
I was unaware of the differences between fostering with the local authority or with an agency, so ended up going with an agency at that time.
There were a lot of things we hadn’t realised, such as that the matching of children with foster families wasn’t as good in the private agency, due to children first and foremost being the responsibility of the local authority.
The children with private agencies are ones that the local authority have been unable to find a suitable foster family for. I know now that this does not mean that there is anything ‘wrong’ with the children, it’s just that the local authority responsible for them do not have any foster carers able to meet their needs at that time. We also didn’t realise that children might not be kept in their local area if fostered through a private agency.”
It’s important to do your research in the differences between local authority foster services, independent agencies, and charities. Fostering is a commitment and can be a big change in your life. It’s worth speaking to people you know that foster, checking websites, or getting in touch with us to talk about your options.
2 we had long gaps between fostering children with the private agency
“We were approved to be foster carers in June 2011 so I handed in my notice as an Office Manager in an Insurance Company. Once we were approved, we waited 6 weeks for our first child through the private agency…which were 6-week old triplets!
You can imagine that was quite a big challenge for our first time as foster carers, but we did love it and had lots of support from family and friends. However, after the triplets, we waited another 9 months before we had any more children to care for.”
As Amanda mentions, all children in care are the legal responsibility of their local authority. In the first instance, we look to match* children with foster carers that are approved within their local authority. (*our team carefully assess the needs of the children and ‘match’ them with foster families that are best suited. It helps to minimise negative outcomes).
When we can’t suitably match children with in-house foster families, we ask the private agencies if they have any foster carers that are suitable. What this can mean is that foster carers in private agencies may have a longer wait in between caring for different children. Why not transfer to local authority fostering to reduce that ‘in-between’ time?
“With the private agency I felt we waited too long between having children in our care. I then realised we were only being asked to take in children that local authorities couldn’t match themselves. Due to the long periods left without a child, we decided to hand in our notice and apply directly with our local authority.
In two years with the agency, we only had respite / short term placements which lasted a few days or weeks. Since fostering with Foster Wales RCT, we’ve not been disappointed and we’ve now fostered 53 children through emergency, short break, and short-term placements. We’re never left for long periods without a child in our care, which is how we like it!”
3 greater flexibility in local authority fostering
“We contacted RCT Local Authority and they were literally amazing. We were able to have a chat about the age range of the children that we felt comfortable fostering (due to the age of our own children at the time) and they said ‘we’ll fit around you’ – and they have done ever since.
They listened to us and it was clear they wanted to work together to find the right outcomes. The majority of the children we previously cared for with the agency were children in the care of RCT local authority children anyway, so I envisaged being kept busy.”
There are many children that need a loving home. It isn’t a case of being able to ‘choose’, but we can be more open and chat with you about what you feel your preferences are based on your current family dynamic.
Often, we’ll suggest fostering children who are younger than the children in your household. However we’re always open and happy to explore all your options with you.
It’s worth thinking about the types of fostering you could offer too. Could you give regular breaks for other foster families? Are you available to support us with emergency care? Would you prefer to foster more longer-term? Head to our types of fostering page to find out more.
Foster carers don’t necessarily have to give up their jobs to foster either. It is possible to foster and be employed full time, but it may require some extra thought and planning. It may mean you need additional support from family and friends in your role as a foster carer. Or you may choose to foster part-time, or for short breaks. Foster Wales Monmouthshire have written a handy blog about fostering and working.
4 support and rewards of fostering
“Our transfer process was easy and relatively quick.
I think 10 years ago agencies may have had a slightly higher rate of pay but now I think local authorities have caught up and with enhancements, retainers, leisure cards, discount cards etc. it feels like they have overtaken agencies.
We always feel that the support we need is there if needed, 24 hours a day.”
We have many foster families with different circumstances, but they are all supported. You’re not out there on your own. We promote a team approach. You’ll work with dedicated social workers, teachers, therapists, not forgetting your own family and friends.
5 we have no regrets about transferring from the private fostering agency
“It was the best decision for us to transfer to Foster Wales RCT. We have fostered with RCT for 9 years now and we would highly recommend it.”
Here at Foster Wales RCT we want to encourage more people to become foster carers and/or transfer to local authority fostering. It means more children can remain in their local area, with their support team all based in the same office and therefore better investment in support services.
You might have a fixed idea of who can foster – but the truth is, anyone with the space in their heart and home has the potential to join us. Making sure we have a diverse mix of carers, with different backgrounds, experiences and stories, is important to us. We celebrate everything that makes you unique. In return, we provide all the local expertise, financial support, and training you need to properly support a child or young person. You’ll be working with a team of committed and passionate people. All working together to build brighter futures for local children.
Join us in making a difference, by fostering with your local authority
If you’d like to transfer to local authority fostering, or you’d just like to know more about fostering in RCT, please get in touch here.
For people residing outside of RCT, please visit www.fosterwales.gov.wales to find your local authority fostering service, or further information.
