Questions To Ask Before Transferring Fostering Agencies
Thursday 20 November 2025
Last updated: Thursday 30 October 2025
Transferring agencies might feel daunting, but rest assured knowing that we will be there to help you every step of the way, ready to answer any questions and make sure everything progresses smoothly. The process of transferring agencies is quite straight forward, whether you’re with an independent agency or a local authority. We will be available 24/7 to answer any questions and help make your transfer easy.
The first step is simply getting in touch us for a quick chat.
What makes someone want to transfer to a different fostering agency?
- Delays in communication
- Lack of resources and training
- Subpar support
- Limited benefits and compensation
- Seeking a more therapeutic approach
- Moving to a new area
How Five Rivers is different from other agencies
We are one of England’s leading foster care providers and at Five Rivers we offer our Foster Carers personalised care, support, and ongoing training. We are a “child first” agency and ensure our Foster Carers have everything they need to help their child thrive. Due to our social enterprise status, we are able to offer ample support and training that surpasses what other fostering agencies provide.
Training and Support
What kind of support do you offer Foster Carers?
All our services offer regular support groups where carers can support each other, connect, share their experiences, and offer advice. Our carer groups are well established and are held in comfortable surroundings, with occasional guest speakers. Our Social Workers and managers also attend these sessions to provide additional information, service updates and to offer support to our carers.
Can I contact you anytime?
Yes, we are available 24/7 to answer any questions you may have and offer support when needed.
How will my Social Worker support me through this process, and will they be local?
Once you have confirmed your wish to transfer to us and provided your intent to transfer to your current Fostering Service, you will be allocated a Form F Assessor who will be available to you until your assessment is completed.
Additionally, you will be assigned a Carer Mentor, who will provide you with additional information about the agency as you progress through the assessment process. We also encourage you to visit the office and meet our team, so once approved, you don’t feel like you are starting with a new service and you are already familiar with our staff and how they will be involved in your support.
Do you offer any training and if so, what do you currently have in place?
Our services provide a comprehensive range of training to Foster Carers. We understand how important it is and how much it helps to ensure better outcomes for children. As well as offering mandatory and regulatory training courses, we take pride in our trauma informed approach to train carers to a high standard. We invest in therapeutic clinicians who we employ directly as part of our team who are available to provide input and assessment of our children and provide strategies and clinical support to our Fostering Families.
The Matching Process
As an approved carer, you can decide the age range of any children placed with you, this is all part of your assessment and is completely led by you.
Can I transfer with my current foster child?
When you transfer, we work within the Fostering Network Transfer Protocol process this ensures the child’s needs are kept paramount throughout, as you work to change your Fostering provider. They shouldn’t experience any changes in their day-to-day care and arrangement – these meetings include you, your Local Authority, Five Rivers, and the Agency you are transferring from. Everyone attends the meeting, and their views are sought to aid a smooth transition and transfer. We have a great deal of experience in the process and will involve you and keep you informed throughout.
Financial and Practical Matters
What financial support and payment structure do you have available? Is it in line with what I am getting now?
The transfer process protects your fee from your existing provider for the duration of the placement, if your current fee is lower, we will bring you on to our fee structure.
We pay a banding dependent on age, and we can provide more details on request.
How frequently will my payments be made?
We pay our carers weekly by Bank Transfer.
We want to make your transfer as easy as possible so you can continue supporting the lives of children and young people.
If you’re thinking about transferring fostering agencies, get in touch with our friendly Carer Enquiries Team who can answer your questions.