Sometimes, a foster carer will choose to transfer to a different fostering service.
The Fostering Network has worked with key members of the fostering sector to develop transfer protocols which guide the way in which fostering services should manage the movement of foster carers between fostering services.
The protocols reflect the legislation, regulations, statutory guidance and national minimum standards that govern fostering services across the UK.
Guiding principles
There is a different transfer protocol for each nation of the UK (see below), but some guiding principles apply across the UK:
- All foster carers have the right to freedom of movement between fostering services.
- Fostering services should not coerce or entice foster carers to transfer to a new service to ensure the continuation of a child’s placement with them.
- Planning for a movement from one service to another must be child-centered and allow for the child or young person (and their parents or other relevant people) to have their views heard.
- A foster carer cannot be approved by more than one fostering service at the same time, apart from in Scotland, and so they must not be approved by the fostering service to which they are transferring before the date that their previous approval ends.
We have also created this flowchart for foster carers that gives an overview of the process.