How to Choose a Fostering Agency

There are over 400 Ofsted-registered fostering agencies in England. The right one for you depends on where you live, the type of fostering you want to do, and the support you need. Here's how to cut through the noise.

1. What is their Ofsted rating?

Ofsted inspect fostering agencies and rate them Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, or Inadequate. The rating is important — but it's not the only thing that matters, and it doesn't always reflect your day-to-day experience.

An Outstanding agency generally has:

• Strong management and quality assurance systems
• Consistently positive outcomes for children
• High carer satisfaction and retention
• Rigorous training and development programmes

But an Outstanding rating from 4 years ago means less than a Good rating from last year. Always check the date of the most recent inspection.

2. What is their supervising social worker caseload?

The single biggest predictor of the support you'll receive is how many carers each supervising social worker (SSW) manages. The regulations don't specify a maximum, but best practice is fewer than 20 families per SSW. Ask this question directly — agencies with high caseloads often deflect.

3. What is the out-of-hours support like?

Fostering doesn't stop at 5pm on a Friday. Crises happen overnight, at weekends, over bank holidays. You need to be able to reach a real person. Ask:

• Is there a 24/7 on-call service?
• Is the on-call person a qualified social worker, or a call-handler?
• Can I speak to someone from my own agency, or is it a shared service?

4. What training do they offer?

The minimum is 15 hours per year. Good agencies offer 40+ hours, including therapeutic fostering training, trauma-informed approaches, and specialist training for UASC or complex needs placements. Ask to see their training calendar.

5. What is the fostering allowance?

Allowances vary significantly. IFAs (independent fostering agencies) can generally pay more than local authorities because they receive a higher fee from the local authority per placement. For a primary school-age child, allowances range from £250 to £450+ per week depending on the agency and the complexity of the placement. Don't be shy about asking for their full fee schedule.

6. Are they local to you?

Your SSW needs to visit you at least once per quarter. Distance matters. An agency headquartered 100 miles away with no local office is likely to give you a SSW who covers a large geographic area and visits infrequently. Prioritise agencies with a genuine local presence.

7. What specialisms match your goals?

If you want to care for teenagers, look for agencies that specialise in adolescent placements. If you're interested in parent-and-child fostering, find an agency with a dedicated programme. Your specialism alignment affects both placement quality and your job satisfaction.