In football, the transfer window shuts twice a year. But in fostering, there's no deadline day.
And often, like in any walk of life, foster families want to see if the grass is greener.
At Changing Futures, we’ve had several of our families transfer from other agencies.
It is a big step.
Many have been with that agency for years. They will have strong bonds.
But in the same way that you would look elsewhere if you weren’t happy with any aspect of your life, be it your child’s school or your mortgage, then foster families will do the same if they aren’t getting the support they need.
And support is the big word.
At Changing Futures North East, that level of round-the-clock, high-level support is what sets us apart from dozens of other agencies.
Just take supervision for instance.
Having someone with you on your fostering journey – someone who knows the process and has worked with families like yours – is huge.
At Changing Futures North East, we pride ourselves on the fact that in your first year, supervision is fortnightly.
It means the support you enjoy from day one is second-to-none.
And it doesn’t matter how long you’ve supported, we know that however much experience you have, you always need someone by your side.
One of our new foster families who transferred over recently called me three times in less than 24 hours.
Now in my opinion, these are capable, hands-on parents who know what they are doing.
But equally, they have children in their care and they’ve been with an agency where they never felt supported.
Because of that, we must treat them like they are new to this – and we refuse to take needless risks.
I know from my years of experience that each call could be an emergency.
That’s why on Christmas Day, my work phone never leaves my side.
Because support isn’t a mere marketing tool for our team. It is the right thing to do, and to offer.
And even after that first year, when perhaps any anxieties have eased – and they do – there’s still monthly supervision.
Why? Because when support stops, that’s when anxiety can creep back in.
So, we provide monthly supervision. But we still pick up the phone, and we still answer every email.
I’ve had families who have transferred from other agencies tell me they’ve called their previous agency at 9am with a safeguarding complaint, and nobody has replied until almost teatime.
That’s not acceptable.
And while there are dozens of agencies across the North East working hard to support the soaring number of children needing care – full of staff with good hearts and good intentions – at Changing Futures North East, we like to think that we go that extra mile.
And we don’t do so for money.
We are proudly a not-for-profit.
For us, it isn’t about big houses and fancy offices for us. Our team doesn’t do this because of the five-star holidays we go on.
We do it because it matters. Because we genuinely care.
If there’s any money left in the pot, it goes back into caring for the children and families we support with standout services like detailed in-person training.
And we are a smaller agency which we like. Everyone knows each other, and one thing many fosterers who transfer will say, is that gives us a sense of community others can’t offer.
So, if you foster already – or if you have thought about doing so – now is the time.
The transfer window is open.
www.changingfuturesfostering.co.uk