The different types of fostering agencies
If you want to become a permanent foster carer, you need to apply to a fostering agency: either a local authority, a voluntary, or an independent fostering agency. Read on to find out more about each of them...
There are three different types of fostering agencies:
- Local authorities
Many fostering agencies are based in local authority children’s services departments in England and Wales, and in social work departments in Scotland. They usually want to place children close to their own families, school and communities, so tend to prefer applications from people near to their own area. Local authorities hold responsibility for all looked after children in their care, and they will consider foster families they have recruited first as placements for these children. They will sub-contract to independent agencies to recruit families for children they have found hard to place.
- Independent fostering agencies (IFAs)
Most IFAs have developed in the last 20 years. Some will be run on a profit-making basis, others will have charitable status. They may recruit over a wider area and will be less tied to local authority boundaries.
- Voluntary agencies
Voluntary agencies are a type of independent fostering agency. They include large children’s charities and other organisations, many of which will have charitable status. Some of them – such as Barnardo’s and NCH – have been involved in fostering for over 100 years. Like IFAs, they may be looking for local foster carers, but also tend to cross local authority boundaries.
To find out more about each of them, read our interviews with a local authority (Northamptonshire County Council), a voluntary agency (Barnardo’s) and an independent fostering agency (The Fostering Partnership)...
Isabelle Rameau
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Originally published in the Be My Parent newspaper in May 2010.
This article is published with the kind permission of the people involved. You may download it for your own reference but if you wish to use it for any other purpose, please contact Be My Parent for authorisation: Be My Parent, BAAF, Saffron House, 6-10 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS. Telephone: 020 7421 2666.
Last updated: 04 May 10
