I'd love to hear from people who foster with agencies or directly with the council - or even better, who have had experience of both.
Having done a lot of research we initially thought we would go with an agency (better support, 24/7 SW access, higher fees).
The argument against is usually: you will get more difficult kids as councils always place their children with their own foster carers first because placing with an agency is so expensive so the 'easier' cases are placed in house (the exception being if you can offer large family group fostering (which we can't - our max is 2). We're not actually wanting to foster kids - rather UASMs or possibly mother and baby.
My concern with agencies is as follows: it was explained to me by one agency: we get offered a placement and then we pass this out to tender amongst all our foster carers. So you are competing amongst all the agencies' carers - which could very well mean that we will not be kept busy/have long gaps between fostering.
The downsides of working for the council are: uncontactable SWs who are severely over-stretched, incompetence (agencies have a better reputation for competence because they are a business and have to make a profit - or maybe it's just that they have a much smaller caseload) and lower fees.
What are peoples' opinions? I'm not seeking political opinions (ie. the moral aspect of working for a commercial enterprise like an agency as I'm up to speed on that). Just what peoples' experiences of both have been like.
Thanks!
Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on fostering.
Fostering
Agencies or Council?
Surburbia · 08/02/2023 22:10
Surburbia · 09/02/2023 18:16
@f0stercarer you are, however, describing a tendering out system that the council do, circulating placements to, as you say, 'many, many agencies'. That worries me. I'd rather be busy and not have to compete with 100s of others.
Also, I know you take large family groups and thus I believe have more power to refuse anyone who you feel isn't good for your circumstances. I spoke to Nexus about being choosy and they weren't keen to say the least. Their view was: if you kept refusing, we'd have to consider if the relationship was working...
You say: 'you are likely to need more support at the start of your career'. I'd be most grateful if you could detail what this support entails. I seriously have no idea what this support is and what one needs it for. Concrete examples would be immensely useful.
Thanks!
f0stercarer · 23/02/2023 15:33
Sorry for late reply. been on hols ....I would say its like any job in that you dont know what you dont know until you start. I am a great believer in taking advice from people who have walked the path before you and thus when confronted with demands from some agents be it birth parents, LA social workers, new schools, virtual schools, health visitors etc etc it can be really useful to know what is truly expected and what is being tried on. At outset you obviuously stand out like a sore thumb to more experienced other agents and are ripe to be pushed around.You asked for concrete examples so let me give you one. CONTACT (horrible word to decribe family time where foster kids meet birth parents or siblings or both etc). You may be asked to meet birth parents or family members at a park or public place and the LA might say they expect this of you. Seems reasonable and you dont want to be confrontational. However this must be refused and should be done with the help of your ssw. LA might insist on a certain school and you need how to go about persuading them its a big mistake without alienating them. it's just the politics and systems to get your desired outcomes.
Surburbia · 09/02/2023 18:16
@f0stercarer you are, however, describing a tendering out system that the council do, circulating placements to, as you say, 'many, many agencies'. That worries me. I'd rather be busy and not have to compete with 100s of others.
Also, I know you take large family groups and thus I believe have more power to refuse anyone who you feel isn't good for your circumstances. I spoke to Nexus about being choosy and they weren't keen to say the least. Their view was: if you kept refusing, we'd have to consider if the relationship was working...
You say: 'you are likely to need more support at the start of your career'. I'd be most grateful if you could detail what this support entails. I seriously have no idea what this support is and what one needs it for. Concrete examples would be immensely useful.
Thanks!
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