fostering with your local authority
We’re part of your local community, close by with expert local support and guidance. We keep children local wherever possible. We’re one team. We’re not for profit.
Here, we tell you more about what we do, and highlight the benefits of local authority fostering.
local authority or agency foster care?
When you are first looking into becoming a foster carer, one of the things you might find yourself asking before delving deeper is ‘what’s the difference between local authority fostering and fostering through a private fostering agency?’.
Understanding these differences will help you make an informed decision.
Here, we break down all the key information to help you understand why fostering with your local authority would benefit both you and the children in your care.
who can I foster with?
- Local authority fostering
- Local authorities are the most direct route to fostering and legally responsible for all children in care too
- Charity or other not-for-profit organisations
- Contracted by local authorities to offer fostering, among many other support services.
- For-profit fostering agencies
- Being phased-out in Wales by 2030. These companies operate in a way more similar to a business, some with other interests tied up in their operations.
what is local authority fostering?
Local authority fostering means becoming a foster carer directly through your local council’s fostering services. In Wales, this means working with one of the 22 local authorities within the Foster Wales network.
When children first come into care, the local authority takes on the legal responsibility for their well-being. The council’s own fostering service is always the first port of call when a child needs a foster family; armed with the knowledge of the area and community, the local authority team are best equipped to make arrangements for the welfare of young people.
What makes local authority fostering so rewarding is the reliable, community-focused approach to foster care it offers.
Here, we will outline the key differences between fostering with your local authority and a for-profit fostering agency.
what is a for-profit independent fostering agency (IFA)?
For-profit independent fostering agencies (also known as private fostering agencies) are businesses set up separately from local authorities. They recruit foster carers, and respond to various local authority teams when they need to match families with young people who need care.
The core differences are that some of these for-profit fostering companies often span multiple areas and operate across the UK. This means, for instance, that a child might be placed with foster carers outside of their home area, which could mean leaving their familiar community behind. Fostering with an agency could also involve caring for a child whose family live a fair distance away, which means increased travel requirements for you.
what’s changing with for-profit fostering in wales?
In Wales, from 2027, for-profit agencies will not be able to recruit new foster carers and by 2030, local authorities in Wales will only be able to place children with foster carers with for-profit agencies with ministerial approval.
Read more about Welsh Government’s removal of profit from children’s care Act: Not for profit fostering
local authority and agency foster care (for-profit) – what are the key differences?
When deciding between local authority fostering and a for-profit private fostering agency, consider the following key factors:
finding foster families
When it comes to finding suitable care for young people, local authorities will contact their own foster carers first. Normally, they’d only reach out to other external fostering agencies if no suitable local authority carers are available.
As they are approached in certain circumstances, for-profit agency foster carers can experience gaps between caring for children, while local authority carers are kept pretty busy – unless they want a break.
Local authority foster carers are more likely to be considered for all ages of children including toddlers and babies, whereas for-profit independent foster agency carers tend to have children who are slightly older.
information sharing and decision making
What’s more, local authorities will know more about the child’s history and background when matching foster carers with young people, as they work to support families before children come into care and when children return home.
main focus
Local authority fostering is not run as a profit-making business. For profit independent fostering agencies are a business, meaning the owners of the business are more likely to be profit-driven and some are funded through private equity.
Read more about how private equity is involved in foster care:
community network
Local authorities are an integral part of their communities, and as such have an in-depth understanding of how to serve them best.
This means both you and the foster children you care for will be part of a supportive local network, with connections to schools, knowledge of local support services, and a community of foster carers in your local area.
Whether it’s an experienced and knowledgeable social worker in your local area, or a group of other foster carers close by to meet for coffee and share your fostering experience, in Foster Wales we pride ourselves on a real sense of community and belonging.
care planning
With local authority fostering, foster carers, supervising social workers, and children’s social work teams are all part of the same organisation, meaning continuity, information sharing, and decision-making are streamlined.
For profit fostering companies, will have to coordinate this with local authority teams as external organisations.
As part of the local authority team, you will also be more involved in the decision-making process. This means better communication with the child’s social worker, and a level of security knowing if children are staying long term with you, or what plans are being made, rather than receiving any last-minute surprises.
pay
This is about more than who appears to pay the highest rate. The local authority approach to foster carer payment ensures that children receive everything they need to thrive, so we split the pay available into 3 parts; the weekly child allowance, the carer’s fee, plus a wide range of other benefits.
Transferring foster carers tell us that the local authority approach to finance is noticeably (and positively) different when it comes to providing equipment, especially for babies, or when moving parent and child fostering onto a new start. This way, they get to take essential items with them, without you having to replace them out of your own pocket.
Local authorities may offer a retention payment, council tax discount, and extra benefits for the whole family, such as leisure passes and free entry to local venues. With everything being based locally, you may also see a difference in your petrol and car travel. It’s important to look at the whole picture, because it’s not as simple as a price comparison .
support
The best support comes from fellow foster carers. In the local authority, there’s a community of foster carers to tap into.
Plus, the whole team have decades of experience and may have often known the children in your care since they were little. This caring approach is part of everyone living and working in the local community.
There can be specialist support e.g. therapists available when needed. Local authorities are also evolving the support on offer, testing and developing the latest advances in empowering foster carers.
As part of Foster Wales, you can benefit from knowledge and expertise anywhere in our network.
training
Local authorities offer a wide range of learning and development opportunities as part of their tried and tested framework, along with new and advanced courses in the latest techniques. Additional workshops can also be run by other services within local authorities, for example a therapeutic team.
As a foster carer, you can access all the in-house training on offer to council staff and teachers. Face-to-face training is held at local venues, making it easier to attend between school runs. Meeting other foster carers on courses can also spark up a connection or friendship for that important cuppa.
Attending face to face training from national for-profit private fostering agencies, meanwhile, may be more practically difficult in terms of travel time for example.
which is better: for-profit independent fostering agencies or local authority fostering?
The main goal of both fostering agencies and local authority teams is to support children in need of care. But, while fostering with a for-profit private fostering agency might seem appealing, there’s no doubt that the community focus of local authorities is unmatched.
Becoming a foster carer is a very personal journey. So, ultimately, the decision of local authority or for-profit agency foster care is down to your own priorities.
But, if you want to work with a team which offers support, in-depth knowledge of the children, and joined-up care planning, and a community of caring like-minded people nearby, consider local authority fostering.
support and services: how does foster wales compare?
At Foster Wales, we are here to support you every step of the way, from the very beginning. If you choose local authority fostering in Wales, you’ll be working with a team from our network who are based in your area and have a thorough understanding of the community.
We’ll aid you in growing your skills and confidence through both an initial round of training, and ongoing learning and development opportunities. Plus, we’ll be on hand to support you with any questions or issues.
Of course, through local authority fostering, you’d also have direct access to all the teams involved in a foster child’s care, as well as to a local fostering network of other foster carers who can share their experiences and advice.
And, since we are a non-profit (unlike many fostering companies currently operating in Wales), all the resources we receive are invested into caring for young people and their foster carers. This means you’ll receive a range of financial support and benefits to make your foster care journey as smooth as possible.
the benefits of fostering with your local authority
Local authority fostering comes with many benefits, including:
Location: You’ll be supporting young people in need of care within your (and their) own community, ensuring that they don’t have to go far to visit extended family and friends, or change schools.
Priority: When a child needs a foster family, you’d be among the first to be considered – before any private fostering agency carers.
Hands-on team: You’ll be working directly with everyone involved in the care plan of your foster children, and have access to a local team who knows you when you have questions or need support.
how to get started with your local authority?
If you’ve made the choice between local authority or agency foster care (for-profit), and you’re ready to join our fostering community, the next step is simple – reach out to your local authority where you live.
We’ll help you get started with the application process, guide you through the local authority checks for fostering, and support you when you welcome your first foster child.
FAQs
do foster carers get paid more with agencies?
Private fostering agencies might appear to offer higher allowances for the carers they recruit, but this isn’t always the case and might come with additional requirements, such as extended travel, more complex care responsibilities, or expectations to be fully available whenever needed.
is there more support with a local authority?
Yes. Since the fostering team you’ll be working with is local to your area, they’ll have extensive knowledge of the community as well as a detailed understanding of the background and needs each child has. Plus a large community of local foster carers near you.
can I foster for both?
Unfortunately, you can’t be with two fostering services simultaneously – you can only be registered with a single foster care provider at any time.
If you’re currently registered with a for-profit private fostering agency and looking to switch, we can support you with making the move to your local team.
fostering success stories
Hear from those who know best: our amazing foster carers.
support and rewards
Training, support and rewards enjoyed by every one of our foster carers in Wales
find your local foster wales team
Enter your postcode to find a link to your local foster care team.
