Can you foster for a different LA?

[hollie84]

I know it is possible to adopt through a different LA, but can you foster for an LA other than the one you live in?

Yes, but it needs to be relatively close - it's an expectation for most children that they will be within 30 mins of their home. There are meetings, contacts and visits too, which can be difficult if you are far away, and children will normally not change school wile in care.

If it's a permanent placement it can be different, but usually an authority will place with an independent agency if they want a child placed out of area, not another LA

We live a mile or two from the border of the other LA. We are looking at pre-school children.

You will probably be fine, though with young children you may well be doing daily contact at a contact centre near the parents, who may live the other side of the other LA. If you are ok with that it can be a positive as you are less likely to bump into birth family.

The only ither thing to consider is medical needs. We live in the border of LAs and our GP is in a different LA. It makes medical appointments a real pain for our foster children as the health professionals aren't familiar with the way the fistering LA work.

I've had placements from three other LAs. Especially where they have wanted to find a 'safe' place for the child to live to get them away from problem friends. It has worked well for some, less well for others.

I wouldn't want to work for the local LA, it's too close to home. You don't want to be bumping into birth parents whilst shopping etc.

Daily contact is unlikely and working slightly out of area has more pros than cons for sure.

Also fostering is expensive and you want to go with someone who will pay reasonably. Bringing up a child costs money and you want to be able to provide well for them.

How about considering an IFA? This often gives you more choice rather than one or two LA's.