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Spotting the signs it’s time to transfer fostering agencies

As a foster carer, feeling supported and respected by your fostering agency is key to providing the best care for your child. But what do you do if things aren’t going as smoothly as they should? Let’s explore the signs that it may be time to consider transferring to a different agency.

It’s normal to feel apprehensive about transferring, but moving to a more supportive agency can be a really positive step in your fostering career. Transferring is easier than you think and at Tree House Care our dedicated recruitment team will be with you every step of the way. Many of our foster carers have made the move, and have never looked back!

Spotting the signs

Not feeling part of the team

Fostering is a team effort between you, your foster child, and the agency. Your agency should provide ongoing support, be responsive to your needs, and offer the resources needed for you to feel confident in your role.

If you feel isolated or unsupported, that’s a red flag. At Tree House Care, we prioritise the voices of both foster carers and the children they care for, ensuring that everyone is heard and respected. If you’re not getting this level of support, it may be time to find an agency that values your contribution more.

Poor training and development

Being a foster carer involves much more than providing a loving home – it requires specialised knowledge and skills to meet the unique needs of each child. But it doesn’t stop there, ongoing training is vital to keep your skills fresh and your knowledge up to date.

Fostering is a career and you deserve to be treated like a professional. Your fostering agency should be committed to your ongoing development. If you feel that the training you receive is lacking, it might be time to switch to an agency that invests in your professional growth and, by extension, the well-being of the children in your care.

Feeling unsupported

Proper support from your fostering agency is essential for a positive fostering experience. This support should be readily available across across a number of different channels, including phone calls, home visits, and appointments.

If you’re frequently feeling frustrated or left to manage on your own, it’s a strong indication that your current agency isn’t meeting your needs. Consider transferring to an agency that can offer you the comprehensive support system you deserve.

Hard work not recognised financially

Fostering is a demanding, full-time commitment for many carers, and the financial compensation should reflect that. If your current agency isn’t providing sufficient financial support or if you find yourself having to dip into your own resources, it might be worth exploring other agencies that offer more appropriate compensation.

We recognise the dedication of our foster carers and ensure they are rewarded accordingly, with generous allowances and additional benefits, so you focus on providing the best care for your foster children. And if you already have your TSDS qualification, we’ll pass that training investment over to you as a one off payment of £2,000 once approved!

Limited Placement Opportunities

We all know that fostering can be challenging, so it’s normal to have breaks in between placements. But sometimes these breaks can go on longer than you’d like, and the lack of payments during this time can be a worry. This might be because your agency doesn’t have good relationships with local authorities, or isn’t able to match you with suitable children.

Tree House Care excels in matching the right foster families with the right children, working closely with local authorities across the UK. In fact, it’s quiet common for us to fill every available home we have with children in need. If your current agency isn’t providing you with enough opportunities, it may be time to explore other options.

No Respite Care

While fostering is incredibly rewarding, it can also be physically and emotionally taxing. Respite care is essential for allowing foster carers to take a break and recharge, ensuring they can continue providing high-quality care.

If your current agency doesn’t offer adequate respite options and you’re feeling burnt out, it might be beneficial to transfer to an agency that prioritises the well-being of its carers. For instance, we offer a minimum of 14 nights of paid respite per year, helping our carers maintain a healthy balance.

Not getting what you were promised

Lots of agencies make big promises when they’re encouraging you to apply, whether its the frequency of placements, the age of the children you’ll be looking after or level of support you’ll receive. Unfortunately, you might find the situation different in real life.

If you feel like your agency is working in the best interests of the business, and not in the best interests of the children and the carers, this is a sure sign that you should look elsewhere.
Tree House Care will put you in touch with our existing carers so you can hear first hand how we operate. We guarantee no nasty surprises!