Your journey
Transfer Process
If you’re currently a foster carer with another fostering agency or Local Authority and want to transfer to Team Fostering this is the process we’ll support you through.
Start your transfer to Team Fostering today!
From your confidential initial enquiry through to the stream-lined assessment period, we will support and guide you through the transfer process, ensuring a smooth transition for you and any children or young people currently placed with you.
Step 1 – Enquiry
After you’ve reached out to us, one of our recruitment team will have an initial, informal chat to find out more about you and your experience with fostering so far. This will progress to a more in depth conversation if you wish to get the ball rolling, where we’ll also ask more about the financial package you’re currently receiving. If you’d like to speak to one of our foster carers to get a view of what it’s like to foster with us, we can arrange this for you.
Step 2 – Initial home visit
If we haven’t discussed anything which would prevent you from fostering with us, we’ll organise for an assessing social worker to come and visit your home. If you currently have foster children with you they will explore the needs of the children at this stage.
Step 3 – Application
We’ll assess all the information gathered so far, and if we think you have everything needed to be a part of the Team Fostering family we’ll invite you to apply. You’ll then receive access to an online application form. If you complete this within 2 weeks you’ll receive £250 upon your approval with us.
Step 4 – Assessment
This is the point at which you’ll need to inform your agency of your intention to transfer as we’ll be contacting them for references as well as arranging the transfer protocol if you currently have children with you. We’ll update your existing Form F and you may have fewer assessment sessions depending on when it was completed. You’ll also attend an online Transferring Skills session as well as introductions to various teams across the agency. We expect you to attend panel around 16 weeks from receiving your application but sometimes it can be quicker than this.
Transfer of Foster Carers Protocol
At Team Fostering we adhere to the Transfer of Foster Carers Protocol, which prioritises the welfare of any children currently with you and enables a smooth transition for both them and you. If you have children with you, we’ll do our absolute best to ensure they transfer to Team Fostering with you, working closely with their social worker and the Local Authority. We’ll arrange a Transfer Protocol Meeting where our Team Manager and Family Finding team will meet with you and your current agency to understand in more detail about the children in your care and your support needs. We’ll match you to an experienced assessor who will explain each step and guide you through the process. This will be done alongside the assessment process to help avoid any disruption for the children and we can make appointments at times to suit you, including evenings and weekends.
Step 5 – Panel and Approval
At the end of your assessment you’ll be invited to a Panel meeting, where your assessment will be discussed and we might ask any final questions.
After Panel, all information goes to our Agency Decision Maker who will then confirm your approval as a foster carer with Team Fostering.
