Transfer guide
How to Transfer to Another Fostering Agency
Changing provider involves more than signing a new agreement. The process is designed to protect children, verify that the new service is suitable and co-ordinate the end and start of your approvals.
About this guide
The usual route in England
This guide explains the usual route in England. Your own process may differ according to your circumstances, current provider and the needs of any children living with you.
Compare properly
Before you start
Compare the practical details, not only the headline allowance.
Ask Organic Fostering to provide the relevant policies and financial information in writing.
The process
How a transfer usually works
- 01
Initial conversation
Contact us for an informal discussion. We will ask about your current approval, fostering experience, household and reasons for considering a change. You can ask questions without committing to an application.
- 02
Decide whether to apply
If both sides want to proceed, you will complete an application. At this stage you will normally notify your current fostering service in writing that you intend to explore a transfer. This is not the same as formally resigning. If a child is placed with you, the placing local authority must also be notified so their care plan and welfare can be considered.
- 03
Information sharing and reassessment
With the appropriate permissions and lawful basis, Organic Fostering will request relevant information from your current service. An assessing social worker will complete a new assessment covering your fostering experience and learning; household and support network; current approval and placement history; safeguarding checks and references; health, finances and home environment; and strengths, development needs and proposed approval terms. Checks may need to be refreshed even if you completed them previously.
- 04
Transfer protocol meeting when a child is placed
Where one or more children are living with you, the placing local authority will usually convene a meeting with you, your current service and the proposed new service. The meeting considers whether continued placement with you remains in each child's best interests; how the transfer could affect the child; how the care plan and existing relationships will be maintained; what support the child and household will need; financial and contractual arrangements between organisations; a safe and realistic timetable; and the views of the child, parents and other relevant people where appropriate. Sector protocol indicates that this meeting should normally be arranged within 28 days after written notice of intent where a child is in placement. Actual arrangements depend on the placing authority and case circumstances.
- 05
Training and preparation
Your previous experience will be recognised, but training records and development needs will be reviewed. Organic Fostering may require agency-specific learning or updates before approval.
- 06
Panel and decision
The completed assessment is presented to a fostering panel. Panel considers the evidence and makes a recommendation about your suitability and proposed terms of approval. The agency decision maker makes the formal decision. Panel attendance is a professional conversation, not an exam. Your assessing social worker will explain what to expect.
- 07
Co-ordinating the change
Formal resignation from your current service is normally timed only when the proposed new service is ready to complete approval. In England, resignation takes effect 28 days after your current service receives written notice. The end and start dates should be co-ordinated because a foster carer cannot normally hold approval with two services at once. If a child remains with you, all parties must also agree how support, payments, records and professional responsibilities move across.
Paperwork
Documents you may be asked for
- current approval details;
- training and development records;
- previous assessment or review information, subject to access and sharing rules;
- identification and right-to-work evidence;
- household information;
- reference and employment details;
- driving and vehicle documents where relevant;
- health information and consent for checks;
- details of current placements and placing authorities.
The assessing social worker will provide a personalised list.
Your checklist
Questions to ask before transferring
- Who will be my supervising social worker?
- What help is available outside office hours?
- How often will supervision take place?
- How are matching decisions made?
- What training will I need to repeat or update?
- What is included in the allowance and what is paid separately?
- How will my current child's support continue?
- How will my own children or wider household be supported?
- What happens if I start the process and decide not to continue?
Talk it through
Start with facts, not pressure
Speak with an adviser about your approval and current placement situation. The conversation is confidential at the exploratory stage, and you remain in control of whether to apply.
Take the first step
Your fostering questions can start with one conversation
Tell us what you are thinking and ask what matters to you. A member of our Manchester team will explain the next step without pressure or obligation.