Foster Carers Movement Between Agencies

The Fostering Agency fully accepts that Foster Carers have the right of freedom of movement between Fostering Agencies.

In situations where a Foster Carer might be considering transferring to another Fostering Agency, the Fostering Agency would wish for the opportunity to discuss this further with the Foster Carer before any application is made to another Fostering Agency.

The Fostering Agency will promote the principles and aims of The Fostering Network Transfer of Foster Carers Protocol (2014) in its own practice and in its partnership with Birmingham City Council which includes ensuring the following;

• Safeguarding the welfare of Children and Young People, recognising that the welfare of any Child or Young Person in placement is paramount;
• Consideration of the views of the Child or Young Person, and where applicable the views of parents and other relevant parties;
• It must be ensured that Children and Young People in placement are guarded against unplanned moved and/or moves which are not in their best interest;
• To promote high standards of practice with and between agencies;
• To ensure continuity of care for Children and Young People in placement during any transfer;
• To ensure consideration of the Child or Young Person’s Care Plan throughout the transfer process;
• To minimise the length of time taken in the transfer process;
• The Fostering Agency will co-operate fully with all external Fostering Agencies and Foster Carers wishing to transfer and will be helpful and always professional in its approach.

The following is a general overview of the requirements relating to transfer, however, the Fostering Agency will ensure that Foster Carers wishing to transfer have full details of all relevant information. The following overview is what the Fostering Agency will do and is irrespective of whether a Child or Young Person is currently in placement:

• Where after discussion with the Fostering Agency, a Foster Carer makes a decision to transfer to another Fostering Agency the Foster Carer will inform the Fostering Agency of this in writing. Where a Child of Young Person is in placement the Foster Carer will also inform Birmingham Children's Trust Children’s Services of their wish to transfer in writing which will usually be the Child or Young Person’s Social Worker. Birmingham Children's Trust Children's Services will inform the Child or Young Person’s Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) of this intent to transfer to another Fostering Agency;
• Where a Child or Young Person is in placement, the Fostering Agency will attend the transfer protocol meeting;
• The Fostering Agency will provide a reference to the recruiting Fostering Agency and will make available the Foster Carers records for viewing by the recruiting service. This will be on receipt of written consent from the Foster Carer to provide a reference and share information;
• Please note: Where written consent has been refused by the Foster Carer, the Fostering Agency will consider whether there is any information in the records that is a cause for concern and any such information will be shared, even where consent has been refused. This is in line with the transfer protocol. This does not apply where there is no information of concern;
• In line with the transfer protocol the Fostering Agency must provide the recruiting service with access to the Foster Carers records within 15 working days of a request being received;
• The Fostering Agency will keep the recruiting service updated, in writing, of any significant developments between the issue of the reference and the Foster Carers approval by the recruiting service;
• It is recommended in the transfer protocol that an assessment should be postponed if the Foster Carer is subject to a current investigation of allegations, or if there is an investigation relating to significant concerns about their practice, until the outcome of the process is known.

Once the fostering panel of the recruiting Fostering Agency has made its recommendation and the service indicates that it is ready to approve the Foster Carer, the Foster Carer should submit their resignation to the Fostering Agency given 28 days notice. There must not be any overlap in dates as Foster Carers cannot be approved by two agencies therefore dates must be clearly established. When the 28 days-notice has expired the Foster Carers approval with the Fostering Agency will automatically terminate. Where there is a Child or Young Person in placement it must also be ensured that there are no gaps in approval and that approval with the recruiting service begins the day after the last day (day 28), of the resignation with the Fostering Agency. The process is then complete.