22. April 2026

Why Local Authorities Must Act Now on Foster Carer Transfer Fees

This Easter, while many of us pause and reflect, there is one area of fostering that cannot wait — the urgent need to reform how we handle foster carer transfers.

Right now, Local Authorities are operating in a system that is simply not competitive.

Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) are offering £3,000+ refer-a-friend and transfer incentives, while many Local Authorities are still significantly behind. The result?

👉 Experienced, high-quality foster carers are being drawn away 👉 Local Authority sufficiency continues to weaken 👉 Children face increased instability as placement options shrink

This is not a market Local Authorities can afford to lose.

The Reality: Transfers Are Too Slow

Let’s be clear — the current transfer process across many Local Authorities is unacceptably slow.

4–6 months is often considered “normal”
Carers disengage, lose confidence, or withdraw entirely
Opportunities to secure experienced carers are lost

And yet, we already have proof that this doesn’t need to be the case.

Telford Local Authority — rated Ofsted Outstanding — has demonstrated that transfers can be completed in just 6 - 8 weeks. This process has been shared with Ofsted and accepted as a robust, safe, and effective model.

So the question is not “Can it be done?” The question is “Why isn’t it being done everywhere?”

Challenging an Outdated Assumption

One of the biggest barriers to progress is a belief that simply doesn’t hold up anymore:

👉 “We need to complete a brand-new Form F for every transfer.”

This is outdated thinking.

In a modern fostering system:

The existing Form F is a comprehensive professional assessment
It should be read, reviewed, and updated where necessary — not rewritten from scratch
Supporting documents (reviews, training records, allegations history) already provide a clear, current picture

Rewriting a full Form F:

Adds months of delay
Duplicates work already completed
Creates unnecessary friction in the system

It does not reflect the needs of a modern, responsive fostering service.

What Needs to Change — Now

If Local Authorities are serious about rebuilding fostering capacity, three immediate changes are required:

1. Match the Market: £3,000 Transfer Fees

Local Authorities must standardise a £3,000 transfer incentive.

Not as a “nice to have” — but as a baseline requirement to remain competitive.

2. Adopt a 6-8 Week Transfer Model

The sector should move to a national expectation of a 6-8 week transfer timeframe, based on proven models like Telford.

This means:

Using existing Form F reports intelligently
Updating rather than duplicating
Prioritising decision-making speed

3. Enforce Accountability Across the System

This is where central government must step in.

All fostering providers should be required to supply transfer documentation within 2 weeks
Failure to comply should result in financial penalties
All transfer meetings should take place within 6 weeks, unless there are clearly evidenced safeguarding concerns

And crucially:

👉 Any delay justified on safeguarding grounds should be independently reviewed —not used as a blanket reason for inertia.

This Is About More Than Process — It’s About Capacity

Every delayed transfer is:

A missed placement opportunity
Increased pressure on existing carers
A child waiting longer for stability

We cannot continue to accept a system where:

Bureaucracy outweighs urgency
Process outweighs outcomes
And competition is ignored

A Simple Question for Every Local Authority Leader

If you could secure experienced foster carers in 6- 8 weeks instead of 6 months…

Would that be worth acting on?

Because that is the opportunity in front of you — right now.

Reform in fostering isn’t just about structures and systems. It’s about making faster, smarter decisions where they matter most.

And this is one of them.

#fostering #fostercare #fostercarer