Foster with us

Discover the benefits of transferring from another fostering agency to Herefordshire Council

If you already foster with an independent fostering agency (IFA), or another local authority, we would love to hear from you. We have a great deal of experience working with foster carers who transfer and our aim is to make the process as easy and as smooth as possible.

Benefits

• Extensive training, held locally and at no cost to you. We require you to complete four training sessions a year at a minimum
• An excellent allowance that covers all costs, including an allowance of paid respite breaks
• Your own dedicated social worker to support you whenever needed
• Access to a 24-hour support line
• Membership of The Fostering Network, which comes with a long list of benefits including discounts on holidays, short breaks and top UK attractions

How to apply and the transfer process

Contact the recruitment officer on 01432 383240 to discuss the transfer process and talk a little more about your current fostering experience. At this stage, there is no need to tell your agency that you are having discussions about transferring, but you will need to let them know once you have made your decision.

The recruitment officer will visit you at home to discuss the transfer process in more detail, clarify the assessment process, and how you will be supported as a foster carer with Herefordshire Council. If you then make the decision to transfer, we would not contact your current agency until you have had the chance to discuss your plans with them.

When you have made the decision to transfer and your agency have been informed, a fostering social worker will be allocated to update your last Form F describing your fostering experience to date. This process is much quicker than a new assessment as we will be working with the agency directly to access your previous paperwork. Depending how long you have already been fostering, we may decide to refresh your references and medical, and will renew your DBS.

You will then attend Foster Panel along with your assessing social worker and a date for Agency Decision Maker (ADM) will be agreed for your new approval to come into effect and the date the old approval will end.

For further guidance about the transfer process see The Fostering Network Transfer Protocol.

Get in touch with us today to find out more about becoming a foster carer for Herefordshire Council.