Local Authority vs Independent Agencies in Dagenham

If you are considering fostering in Dagenham, one of the biggest decisions you'll make is choosing who to foster for. You generally have two choices: fostering directly for the Local Authority (the council) or fostering with an Independent Fostering Agency (IFA).

1. Fostering Allowances & Pay

Both IFAs and Local Authorities in Dagenham provide a weekly allowance to cover the cost of caring for a child. However, IFAs generally offer a significantly higher professional fee on top of the child allowance. Local Authorities tend to stick closer to the national minimums, though they may offer tier-based progression over time.

2. Placement Volume & Age Groups

Local Authorities are directly responsible for the children in care in Dagenham. Because of this, they usually try to place children with their own foster carers first to save money. This means Local Authority carers often have a very steady stream of placements, especially for younger children and babies.

If the Local Authority cannot find a match internally, they put the referral out to IFAs. IFAs receive referrals from multiple councils, meaning they have a wide variety of placements, but often specialize in older children, teenagers, sibling groups, or therapeutic placements.

3. Support & Training

Because IFAs operate as private or non-profit businesses, they often reinvest heavily into their support infrastructure. Many carers report that IFAs offer smaller caseloads for their Supervising Social Workers, 24/7 dedicated support lines, and frequent, specialized training events. Local Authorities also provide support, but social workers often manage much higher caseloads.