Transferring to ISP: Frances’s Fostering Story

Frances and her husband David have been fostering for 15 years and switched to ISP in 2024 because they wanted to foster with an agency that ‘offered a way of fostering that felt right.’ 

The couple have cared for children of all ages, from newborns to teenagers, using their experience of raising their own four children and Frances’s background in teaching to make a positive difference in their lives.  

Now, they care for a 2-year-old girl and have no intention of stopping any time soon.  

Join us as we explore Frances’s fostering story, from how it all began to the special moments that make the ups and downs all worthwhile.

Why Frances chose fostering

Frances and David started fostering in their 50s, and although they’ve cared for a wide range of ages, they currently specialise in providing a home for young children.  

Frances said, “I used to be a teacher, but decided I needed a change. I looked around and thought about what else I could do, and fostering had always been in the back of my mind.” 

“I knew I enjoyed looking after small children, having done it with my own four, which also meant I was prepared for whatever curveballs life could throw at us. I spoke to my husband about it, and we just decided to give it a go.”

Transferring to ISP

For the first 13 years of Frances and David’s journey, they fostered with their local authority and another independent fostering agency. However, they believed the support and training they were receiving fell short of what was needed to provide the best possible care to children and young people.  

Frances said, “I really liked the fostering agency we were with before we transferred to ISP, but things changed, and everything started to go downhill. We didn’t want to stop fostering, so we looked around for a different agency.” 

“That’s when we came across ISP, and we realised they offered a way of fostering that felt right. They emphasised the importance of therapeutic foster care and put the right support and training in place to help foster parents care for children in this way.” 

“So we decided to transfer, and the process was seamless. We deferred it because it was better for the child we had at the time, but it was still done within 3 or 4 months.” 

Download our Fostering Guide

If you’re interested in becoming a foster parent with ISP, then download our helpful guide to discover everything you need to know about fostering.

Download Guide

ISP’s foster parent support

One of the big reasons why Frances and David switched to ISP was because they wanted to foster with an agency that offers a higher level of support – and they haven’t been disappointed.  

Frances said, “ISP’s therapeutic model centres on communication and making sure everybody is in touch and always has someone to talk to.” 

“We have monthly supervision, which is always very helpful, and a foster parent-led forum where we can set the agenda and choose what we talk about. Through these, we’ve created WhatsApp groups, and friendships have naturally developed.” 

“They also host social events to bring families together, which are really helpful because you get to know people in similar situations and find out how they’re managing so you can apply it to your own life.” 

“No matter what I need, ISP supports me. But one of the biggest things has been the training we receive to care for children therapeutically, which we apply every single day.” 

Welcoming their first child

Over the past 15 years, Frances and David have cared for many children, but will never forget the day they welcomed their first foster child, who, like all the children they’ve cared for, they are still in touch with today.  

Frances said, “Our first foster child was a newborn baby, and my first memory of him was getting him to sleep that night and sitting down and thinking, oh my goodness, I have the responsibility of somebody else’s infant in my house.” 

“That was quite sobering. But the wobble about it didn’t last very long at all. And very quickly the routine set in and we got to know each other very well. He’s 15 now, and we still see him regularly.” 

“He’s a lovely young man and feels like an extra grandchild to us. We are lucky and privileged enough to be in touch with all the children who passed through our care. They’re just getting on with their lives, and we’re just a bit of it, along with all the rest of their family.”

Unforgettable moments

We asked Frances to share one of the most unforgettable moments on her fostering journey.  

She said, “We fostered a young man for just three weeks and ten years later he finally got his British citizenship.” 

“He was a refugee who came here in the back of a lorry. And we’ve watched him age out of care, go through some awful times, get a job, and become a partner in the firm he works for.” 

“He invited us to his British citizenship ceremony, and we are very proud that we made a difference in this young man’s life in one way or another.”

Transferring Fostering Agency

Download our transfer guide

We can fast-track your assessment in 12 weeks, so you can enjoy the benefits of our supportive community much sooner than you might think. Download our transfer fostering agency guide to learn more about the process and benefits of working with ISP.

DOWNLOAD GUIDE

Frances’s fostering advice

“If you feel you’ve got the energy, patience, self-awareness and resilience to foster, then it doesn’t matter how old you are or what stage of life you’re in; you have the skills needed to foster.” 

“Just give it a go, and you might still be here, like us, 15 years later.”

Start your fostering journey

Are you ready to make a difference in the lives of children and young people by providing therapeutic foster care?  

Call us today on 0800 0857 989 or submit your details via our online form to learn more about fostering, including the support, training, and fostering allowances we offer here at ISP.  

Together, we can provide more vulnerable children and young people with the foundation of safety and love they need to reach their full potential.  

Speak to our team today

Whether you’re looking for more information about fostering a child or you’re ready to apply, we’re here to help you take the next step to fostering and start your journey.

Enquiry Form

You are required to have a spare bedroom that’s always available to a foster child. The spare room cannot be shared, and must be big enough to fit a single bed, a wardrobe and a chest of drawers.

To be approved as a foster carer in the UK, you must be a British citizen or have the legal right to remain in the UK without restrictions that would prevent fostering.

The following questions are intended to help us understand your experience with children. Please note that prior experience is not required to become a foster carer, as full training will be provided.

Are you happy to receive regular fostering news from us?*

The company takes the requirements of GDPR seriously in ensuring the privacy and lawful processing of personal data provided to us by you. Please view our privacy notice which explains how the company will manage and use your personal data. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Learn more about transferring today

Transferring to ISP is easier than you think. Speak to one of our fostering advisors today. 

Just some reasons to transfer to ISP…

  • UK’s most established fostering agency
  • Leaders in therapeutic foster care
  • We’ll match your allowance at the very least, but often we can beat it
  • Wrap-around support from a local team of social workers, therapists, education specialists, and more
  • An unrivalled therapeutic training programme

Complete the following form and we’ll give you a call back as soon as possible.

Transfer Form

Are you happy to receive regular fostering news from us?*

The company takes the requirements of GDPR seriously in ensuring the privacy and lawful processing of personal data provided to us by you. Please view our privacy notice which explains how the company will manage and use your personal data. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Fostering stories

Transferring to ISP Helped My Foster Children Flourish: Maxine’s Story

Maxine has been fostering for nearly 30 years, beginning her journey alongside her husband, Trevor, who sadly lost his life in 2019.

Since then, Maxine has been a single foster parent, switching to ISP in 2023 to help the children that were in her care receive the therapeutic support they needed.  

Now, she’s caring for a sibling group of three aged 12, 13 and 14, whom she said ‘have flourished’ with ISP’s support.  

From how her journey began and becoming a single foster parent to fostering a child with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and continuing to support him in adulthood, Maxine shares her story of strength, resilience and love.

How Maxine’s journey began

People become foster parents for all sorts of reasons. For Maxine and Trevor, it was a route into experiencing parenthood together.  

Maxine explained, “I was introduced to fostering by my late husband. We couldn’t have children of our own, so he asked me if I’d thought about fostering, and I said no. I didn’t know much about it at all. He came home one night armed with lots of leaflets and information, and after reading it all we realised it was exactly what we were looking for.”

“We initially started fostering mothers and babies, and over the years progressed to teenagers. And now, I think we’ve covered just about every type of fostering.” 

Becoming a single foster mum

For most of Maxine’s journey, she fostered as a couple, which meant that when she sadly lost her husband in 2019, she was worried about whether she’d be able to continue fostering alone. But despite her reservations, she persevered and found that transferring to ISP four years later made all the difference.  

Maxine said, “For the first 21 years, I fostered with my husband; we were a unit, and it was like I couldn’t see it any other way. When I lost him to cancer seven years ago, I thought that I wouldn’t be able to carry on fostering alone.” 

“The agency I was with then wasn’t the most supportive, but then I found ISP. I explained my situation, and they really do cater for single foster parents.” 

“There’s a single carer support group, a chat group that we’re all part of, and we’ll meet up sometimes. Single foster parents tend to have more backup carers than couples do too.” 

“ISP are always open to listening and will make sure that you get the support you need when you need it.”

Download our Transfer Guide

If you’re interested in transferring to ISP, then download our helpful guide to discover everything you need to know about the process.

Download Transfer Guide

Transferring to ISP for effective therapeutic support

Some people don’t realise that you can transfer to another fostering agency with children already in your care, just so long as it’s in the best interests of each child. 

Maxine took it upon herself to find a therapeutic fostering agency because she felt like the agency she was with at the time wasn’t providing the support the children in her care so desperately needed.  

She said, “I was with my first agency for 20 years, and they sent me on a training course about therapeutic fostering, but it was a very small agency, and they couldn’t follow through.” 

“The course made me realise that the children I had at the time needed therapeutic input, which meant that I had no choice but to look for other agencies that could offer that for my children.” 

“At the time, I tried one agency, but it wasn’t all it promised to be, so I carried on looking around, and then I found ISP, and they met all my requirements.” 

“It was a really easy transfer, and I brought across the two children I had at the time. There were no hiccups. It was really quite simple.”

ISP’s impact on children in Maxine’s care

The children who were in Maxine’s care when she switched to ISP have since moved on, and she now cares for three siblings whose lives have been turned around by the support they’ve received from Maxine and ISP.  

Maxine explained, “I currently have a sibling group of three that have been with me for almost two years now, and they’re 14, 13 and 12. It was quite a complex case of them coming into care, and they definitely need therapeutic input, so I’m very glad I’m with ISP.” 

“The counsellors and therapists are very supportive, and I’ve worked closely with them to make sure the parenting approaches I use are suitable for each child’s needs. They spend regular time with the children too; my youngest is about to start story and picture work with one of the therapists.” 

“This therapeutic input has had a massive impact on the three children.  They’ve never been in care before and have very negative views of the care system, but ISP is the opposite of everything they’d ever been told about being in care.” 

“They’ve embraced everything on offer, and I can safely say they’ve flourished.”

Continuing to support former foster children

When Maxine fosters a child, they truly become part of the family, and she’s still in touch with many of her former foster children today, including the very first foster child she welcomed into her home nearly 30 years ago. 

Maxine said, “My first-ever foster child lives a ten-minute walk up the road. He regularly comes home to shop in my cupboards, and I still support him with everything. I refer to him as my son because that’s what he’s been since he landed on our doorstep when he was just six years old.” 

“We were supposed to have him for three weeks on emergency support for another carer, but then he ended up staying. He was only six years old but had already had 14 foster families. I don’t think previous families understood his needs because he was undiagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).”

ISP_foster_parent

The diagnosis that changed everything

“Once he had been diagnosed and we knew what his needs were, he started to flourish, and we asked if he could stay. It was a case of he’s not going anywhere.” 

“Now, he’s 34 but functions at about 12 on a good day, and lives in supported living. He has his own little flat, which he’s very proud of and has recently started growing his own vegetables at the local allotment.” 

“He is my biggest success because he’s achieved everything we were told he wouldn’t. Somebody once said to him, ‘She’s not your mum, she’s your ex foster carer.’  He stood up and said, ‘She is my mum, she brought me up!’ and that says everything.”

ISP’s therapeutic pathway programme

Every ISP foster parent completes our City & Guilds Assured Therapeutic Pathway Programme, designed by our Head of Therapy, Dr Suzannah Hill, to ensure they have the essential skills and knowledge to care for children living with trauma.  

Maxine shared her experience of our ongoing training, which is delivered both face-to-face and online. She said, “ISP’s training has been really helpful because it’s been tailored to each stage of my journey.” 

“I don’t know how they do it, but it feels like personalised training, and they’re very up to date with the latest facts, figures, and parenting approaches.” 

“I’ve completed a lot of therapeutic training over the years, but every time I train with ISP, I learn something new. I’m not usually a big fan of online learning, but they make it very interactive and deliver it in a friendly way.”

Maxine’s fostering wisdom

From losing her husband and becoming a single foster mum to welcoming a child into her home and later discovering he has a disability, over the past three decades, Maxine has been on quite the journey. But even when things have been tough, she’s never given up.  

We asked Maxine to share her advice for anyone thinking about joining her in changing young lives. She said, “Visit the agencies you’re interested in, find foster parents to chat with, and believe in yourself.” 

“I always said I couldn’t foster children with disabilities, but here I am, having raised a child with FASD and become the mum he needed. When you’re matched with the right child and start giving them the care they need, all your fears seem to slip away.” 

“You just need the right back-up and support, like ISP has given me from the moment I transferred.”

 

Learn more about therapeutic fostering 

Inspired by Maxine’s story? Start your therapeutic fostering journey today by calling us on 0800 0857 989 or by submitting your details via our online form.  

Whether you’re completely new to fostering and want to learn more about becoming a foster parent or have experience and want to find out how to transfer, our experienced team is ready to answer your questions and help you get started with ISP. 

Fostering stories

Speak to our team today

Whether you’re looking for more information about fostering a child or you’re ready to apply, we’re here to help you take the next step to fostering and start your journey.

Enquiry Form

You are required to have a spare bedroom that’s always available to a foster child. The spare room cannot be shared, and must be big enough to fit a single bed, a wardrobe and a chest of drawers.

To be approved as a foster carer in the UK, you must be a British citizen or have the legal right to remain in the UK without restrictions that would prevent fostering.

The following questions are intended to help us understand your experience with children. Please note that prior experience is not required to become a foster carer, as full training will be provided.

Are you happy to receive regular fostering news from us?*

The company takes the requirements of GDPR seriously in ensuring the privacy and lawful processing of personal data provided to us by you. Please view our privacy notice which explains how the company will manage and use your personal data. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Learn more about transferring today

Transferring to ISP is easier than you think. Speak to one of our fostering advisors today. 

Just some reasons to transfer to ISP…

  • UK’s most established fostering agency
  • Leaders in therapeutic foster care
  • We’ll match your allowance at the very least, but often we can beat it
  • Wrap-around support from a local team of social workers, therapists, education specialists, and more
  • An unrivalled therapeutic training programme

Complete the following form and we’ll give you a call back as soon as possible.

Transfer Form

Are you happy to receive regular fostering news from us?*

The company takes the requirements of GDPR seriously in ensuring the privacy and lawful processing of personal data provided to us by you. Please view our privacy notice which explains how the company will manage and use your personal data. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Finding the Right Support: Lee’s Fostering Journey with ISP

After more than a decade of fostering, Lee shares how, after feeling unsupported by his previous agency, transferring to ISP transformed his fostering experience and the lives of the children he and his partner care for. 

Alongside his husband Chris, the couple currently care for two young boys and bring a wealth of experience from the many children they have fostered over the years. 

Their journey reflects both the challenges and the rewards of fostering – and the importance of feeling supported by the right agency.

How Lee’s fostering journey began

Lee’s interest in caring for children started early. After studying care at college and adopting their son in 2011, he and Chris knew they wanted to offer more children a home, but adoption didn’t feel like the right next step. As Lee explains, “I wanted more children in the house, but I didn’t want to adopt again, so we looked at fostering.”

Choosing ISP

Lee and his husband Chris had been fostering for several years before joining ISP, having originally started their fostering journey with another agency. Over time, they began to feel they weren’t receiving the level of support they needed to feel confident and supported in their day-to-day fostering life. 

This became especially clear during Covid, when access to guidance and reassurance felt limited. As Lee explains, “We had a young boy who was a lot of work, and we needed the support, and it wasn’t there… you can imagine 2020, no one to contact. It was quite a hard time.” 

It was during this challenging period that they began to consider making a change, looking for a fostering service where they would feel more supported and better able to focus on the children in their care. 

After speaking to friends who had already made the move, they decided to explore ISP for themselves. Lee explains: “A couple of friends of mine moved over to ISP the December before, so I spoke to them, and they said it’s the best move they made.” 

“We contacted ISP in the January, and it got the ball rolling quite quick. The whole process lasted from January to April, so in just four months we had transferred over to ISP.” 

After transferring to ISP, Lee describes an immediate difference in the level of support available. 

“Straight away, from day one, it was a warm welcome and a social worker got in touch to introduce themselves. With ISP, I can contact anyone at any time because the support on the phone is top-notch.” 

Training has also played an important part in their experience, helping them continue to build confidence in their role. “I do training all the time. I like my training. I do outside training as well as with ISP.” 

Alongside mandatory training, ISP also offers its specialist foster parent training, including the Therapeutic Pathway – a unique programme designed to help foster carers build a deeper understanding of therapeutic principles and how to apply them in everyday caring.

Download our Transfer Guide

If you’re already fostering and interested in transferring to ISP, we can fast-track your assessment in 12 weeks, so you can enjoy the benefits of our supportive community much sooner than you think. Download our transfer fostering agency guide to learn more about the process and benefits of working with ISP. 

Download Transfer Guide

Real change through therapeutic care

Over the years, Lee and Chris have cared for 14 children aged between 7 and 16, each bringing their own experiences and needs. For them, providing a stable, therapeutic environment has been key to helping young people begin to feel safe, supported, and able to grow. 

One young person arrived with them at 16, having just entered care. Lee describes: “One 16-year-old signed himself into care as soon as he hit 16 and he came to us that night.” 

With consistent care and support, they began to see real change over time. Using therapeutic approaches, such as focusing on understanding behaviour, building trust, and supporting emotional wellbeing, the couple helped him gradually gain confidence and start experiencing new things: 

“By the time he left us, he stopped wearing his coat. He’d been to the farms. He’d been to the zoos. He’d been anywhere. The cinema.” 

Looking back, Lee reflects on the importance of that stability and the impact it had on his future: 

“The time he had with us helped him get his own flat, be successful, and go to college.” 

For Lee, this progress is what therapeutic fostering is really about – helping children who have experienced trauma begin to rebuild trust, confidence, and independence through consistent relationships and understanding care.

Lee’s advice

For Lee and Chris, fostering is about more than providing a home, it’s about offering care, stability, and a sense of belonging. Lee shares his advice for anyone who is just beginning their fostering journey: 

“Our experience of fostering…it’s hard, rewarding, and every day is different. You’ve got to remember, these children come from trauma.” 

“If you want to get into this role and you’ve been thinking about it for a while, contact ISP and find out what they can do for you.” 

Want to learn more about fostering? 

Whether you’re new to fostering or are looking to transfer to an agency that provides wrap-around support, extensive ongoing training, generous fostering allowances, and truly understands the needs of children living with trauma, we’d love to hear from you.   

Call us on 0800 0857 989 or submit an enquiry form. Our friendly and experienced team is ready to answer any questions you have about fostering and get you started on this rewarding new journey.  

Fostering stories

Speak to our team today

Whether you’re looking for more information about fostering a child or you’re ready to apply, we’re here to help you take the next step to fostering and start your journey.

Enquiry Form

You are required to have a spare bedroom that’s always available to a foster child. The spare room cannot be shared, and must be big enough to fit a single bed, a wardrobe and a chest of drawers.

To be approved as a foster carer in the UK, you must be a British citizen or have the legal right to remain in the UK without restrictions that would prevent fostering.

The following questions are intended to help us understand your experience with children. Please note that prior experience is not required to become a foster carer, as full training will be provided.

Are you happy to receive regular fostering news from us?*

The company takes the requirements of GDPR seriously in ensuring the privacy and lawful processing of personal data provided to us by you. Please view our privacy notice which explains how the company will manage and use your personal data. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Learn more about transferring today

Transferring to ISP is easier than you think. Speak to one of our fostering advisors today. 

Just some reasons to transfer to ISP…

  • UK’s most established fostering agency
  • Leaders in therapeutic foster care
  • We’ll match your allowance at the very least, but often we can beat it
  • Wrap-around support from a local team of social workers, therapists, education specialists, and more
  • An unrivalled therapeutic training programme

Complete the following form and we’ll give you a call back as soon as possible.

Transfer Form

Are you happy to receive regular fostering news from us?*

The company takes the requirements of GDPR seriously in ensuring the privacy and lawful processing of personal data provided to us by you. Please view our privacy notice which explains how the company will manage and use your personal data. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Is Fostering a Career? Your Guide to Success

Yes, fostering is a professional career that goes beyond the realms of a 9-5 job. It’s a vocation that allows you to dedicate your life’s work to caring for some of the most vulnerable children in the UK.

But can you earn a living as a foster carer, and are there opportunities for development and progression?

In this article, we’ll discuss:

  • The reasons to choose foster care as a career.
  • How much you could earn.
  • The personal qualities and skills you’ll need to make it a success.
  • How we’ll support your growth in the role when you foster with ISP.
fostering Career

Why choose a career in foster care?

According to recent  fostering statistics, there are around 70,000 children in foster homes in the UK. Each year, roughly 36,000 children enter the care system, but there aren’t enough foster families to give them all a safe, loving home.

The majority of these children will have experienced abuse or neglect at the hands of those who were meant to protect them. They are confused, hurt and need the guidance of a parental figure to help them heal and overcome their pasts.

That’s why becoming a foster parent is such an incredibly rewarding and important role. The work you do is life-changing and has an impact on the real world. Here are some of the benefits of choosing fostering as a career in the UK:

  • You give children who haven’t had the best start in life the opportunity to heal and grow.
  • You get to build bonds that last a lifetime and touch the lives of many.
  • If you have your own children, they can learn a lot through a fostering career, such as empathy, gratitude, and responsibility.
  • There are many foster care career opportunities at ISP to expand your knowledge, skills and expertise through first-class training courses and programmes.
  • With us, you’d have 24/7 support and would be surrounded by a team of experts, including therapists, education advisors, and social workers.

How much can you earn with a career in fostering?

At ISP, we work closely with local authorities (LAs) all over the UK, helping to find homes for children they can’t place with their own foster carers. This could be due to resource, but it’s usually because the children are a little older (over 5), need to be placed with their siblings, or require an enhanced level of support that our foster parents can provide.

That’s why our allowances are over and above what a lot of other independent fostering agencies (IFAs) offer. A career in foster care should reward you financially as well as give you immense joy and satisfaction.

Although you won’t receive a foster care salary in the traditional sense, you will receive a fostering allowance of up to £685 per week, per child in your care.

What you need to build a successful career in fostering

Aside from being aged 21 and over, having a spare bedroom, and the legal right to work in the UK, the following are must-haves when it comes to carving out a successful career in the foster care system.

Fostering Career

A compassionate and empathetic nature

To consider a career in fostering, you need to be compassionate, kind and caring by nature. As pioneers in therapeutic foster care, we train our foster parents to look beyond behaviour and, instead, at the reasons for it.

This requires empathy, where you’re able to put yourself in their shoes. Being able to empathise with a child means you’re in a much better position to understand the root cause of their actions and work with them to make positive changes.

Patience in every situation

Healing from a turbulent or traumatic childhood doesn’t happen overnight. Some young people may settle in quickly to a new foster home, while others can be withdrawn and need a lot of nurturing to feel comfortable in their new environment.

You may take a couple of steps back for every step forward when it comes to helping them regulate their emotions. This is why foster parents need to remain patient and work at the young person’s pace to achieve positive outcomes.

The resilience to navigate challenges

It takes the right kind of person to nurture a child through hardship and bring them out the other side smiling. You’re caring for children who have experienced some form of trauma, and as such, they’re likely to have difficulty managing and expressing their emotions.

This can be the toughest part of the job, but once you make a breakthrough with the child in your care and begin to see positive changes, it makes the bumps in the road entirely worth it. If you do short-term fostering, being thick-skinned will also help when a child leaves your care.

Adaptable communication skills

You need to be capable of truly listening to what a child is trying to tell you and be able to talk to them calmly, even when they’re distressed. Many young people choose to disclose certain pieces of information to different people in their circle, such as therapists, teachers and other family members.

It’s up to foster parents and the team here at ISP to piece all that information together to ensure you’ve got the full picture about what’s potentially troubling them.

Some children with autism or learning difficulties might also not communicate in a typical way, so it’s about adapting to each child that comes into your home and finding a way to communicate that works for everyone.

The desire to keep learning

Every child that comes into care has their own unique set of needs and challenges. Many children in care have complex needs due to their unsettled pasts, such as issues with attachment, developmental delays, and emotional regulation.

You might also care for teenagers with mental health challenges, or look after a child from a different cultural background.

The more knowledge you’re armed with, the more helpful you can be as their foster parent. This is why, when it comes to building a successful career in fostering, we put a lot of emphasis on learning new skills and broadening your horizons, which you can learn more about below.

Transferring Fostering Agency

Download our transfer guide

We can fast-track your assessment in 12 weeks, so you can enjoy the benefits of our supportive community much sooner than you might think. Download our transfer fostering agency guide to learn more about the process and benefits of working with ISP.

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Fostering career development opportunities with ISP

At ISP, we’re passionate about helping you become the best you can be, because in turn, that means you’re able to provide the best care to children in need. When you foster with us, you’ll have many fostering career opportunities that’ll enable you to build a flourishing career as a foster care professional.

Therapeutic Pathway Programme

This is a City and Guilds assured 4–5-year training programme that develops your skills and knowledge around key therapeutic principles.

Guided by the latest evidence-based therapeutic parenting approaches, our Therapeutic Pathway training has been designed by our Head of Therapy, Dr Suzannah Hill, in consultation with foster parents, staff and our young people.

There are three levels, covering essential principles and skills, key models and theories, and practical application in day-to-day life.

Professional qualifications

We offer the chance to study for professional qualifications, such as NVQ3 or a QCF Level 3 in Health and Social Care. This is a great way to build your career in foster care and develop transferable skills and knowledge that you can take with you if you ever decide to move on from fostering.

Specialist training courses

Alongside our mandatory training and Therapeutic Pathway, you’ll also have opportunities to broaden your knowledge with specialist, additional training. From Autism Awareness and Foetal Alcohol Syndrome to Keeping Children Safe Online, we have a huge range of courses that ensure your learning never stops.

Could fostering be a career for you?

If you have a big heart, the determination to make a difference, and an eagerness to learn, you should consider fostering as a career.

To learn more, get in touch via our online form or call 0800 0857 989. Our expert advisors are on hand to answer any questions you have and to help you decide if fostering is a career for you.

You can also download our Introduction to Fostering Guide for an in-depth overview of therapeutic fostering, the benefits of being a foster parent, and the steps to take to become one.

Fostering a Career

Rebecca and Jon: Transferring to ISP and Making a Lasting Difference

When Rebecca and Jon first opened their home to foster children, they couldn’t have imagined how much it would change their lives. 

Now, after fostering more than 16 young people, they’ve built lifelong connections, created a warm and stable home, and discovered the true meaning of making a difference. Read on as they share their experience of transferring to ISP and how fostering has enriched their family forever.

Choosing to foster

For Rebecca and Jon, who foster with ISP Sussex, fostering felt like something they were always meant to do.
“I’ve always worked with young people in my career,” Rebecca explains. “I came across many foster children in foster homes I visited and always felt huge empathy for them – and for the foster carers too. I just always knew it was something I wanted to do myself.”

Transferring to ISP

Rebecca and Jon started fostering with another independent fostering agency but, after a few years, they decided to transfer to ISP – and it was one of the best decisions they ever made.

“We were with another agency before, but the support just wasn’t there,” Rebecca explains. “So, we decided to move to ISP. It was a no-brainer really – We’d heard very good reports and reviews about ISP. Jon actually researched and found ISP, and I was like ‘wow!’. I’ve always wanted to foster with them. It’s just a complete package and we’re very, very happy with them”.

“We were invited to the ISP Christmas meal even before our transfer was complete, which made us feel really welcome. We got a real sense of the community that’s there, which was something we were missing from the last one.”

For Rebecca and Jon, transferring to ISP was the right choice but also a simple and straightforward one. Rebecca explained how easy the transfer process was: “We went through the assessment process and within 8 to 12 weeks it was all done and transferred. We transferred with the children we were caring for, and it was absolutely seamless,”

She added. “If foster carers are thinking about transferring to ISP, they shouldn’t worry, at all, about the process. They do all the work for you and keep you updated with everything that’s going on. It was very easy.”

Download our Transfer Guide

If you’re interested in transferring to ISP, then download our helpful guide to discover everything you need to know about the process.

Download Transfer Guide

The importance of support

The couple can’t speak highly enough about the support they receive from ISP.
“The support we get is amazing,” says Rebecca. “There’s a whole network of professional people around you. Our supervising social worker visits us every four weeks, but is always at the end of the phone if we need him. We also have regular carer support groups and reflective practice sessions with a therapist, plus training and social events for the children. It’s a really nice community at ISP.”

As a therapeutic fostering agency, ISP also offers a large amount of therapeutic support. “We’ve had brilliant support from ISP Therapeutic Services. We get a lot of therapeutic support for all young people. Therapy for us as well – that’s something that’s ongoing. We can either use it or not. But it’s always there for foster carers if we need it.”

ISP’s therapeutic approach has made a huge impact on how Rebecca and Jon care for their foster children.

“The training at ISP is brilliant – second to none,” Rebecca says. “The therapeutic pathway training is really interesting – it teaches you how to think outside the box and gives you all the tools you need.”

The lasting impact of fostering

Over the years, Rebecca and Jon have welcomed around 16 young people into their home – from short-term and emergency placements to long-term – and have kept in touch with the vast majority.

“I’d say 90% of them still keep in contact with us,” Rebecca says proudly. “Some come back to visit, send messages and photos, or stay for dinner. It’s so rewarding to see how far they’ve come.”

She recalls one message that meant the world to her:
“A child who left our care said, ‘I can really appreciate what you’ve done for me and the place I’m in now, compared to where I would have been’. She always comes back to stay in the summer now and she always says ‘I don’t know where I’d be without you, without your support’. That’s the hope isn’t it? The goal, you know. And you do get that huge reward.”

Changing lives

For Rebecca and Jon, fostering has changed their own lives as much as it’s changed the lives of the children they’ve cared for.

“Fostering, as a whole, has been quite a rollercoaster. It’s taught me that I’m stronger and more resilient than I thought,” Rebecca says. “And it’s made us an even stronger team. If I could go back in time and give myself any advice, it would be to start earlier.”

Their message to anyone thinking about fostering is simple:
“If you’ve got something to offer a child desperately seeking a safe place to live, just go for it,” says Rebecca. “You will get the training to do it. You will get the advice and support you need, meet other great foster carers, have a wonderful life, and make a difference to those children as well”.

“This is our life. It’s not our job. It’s so rewarding. And it’s a wonderful journey to go on.”

transferring_fostering_agency

Thinking about joining ISP?

Whether you’re an experienced foster parent interested in transferring fostering agency to ISP, or are new to fostering and want to know more, please get in touch with our experienced team by calling 0800 0857 989 or submitting an enquiry.

Fostering stories

Learn more about transferring today

Transferring to ISP is easier than you think. Speak to one of our fostering advisors today. 

Just some reasons to transfer to ISP…

  • UK’s most established fostering agency
  • Leaders in therapeutic foster care
  • We’ll match your allowance at the very least, but often we can beat it
  • Wrap-around support from a local team of social workers, therapists, education specialists, and more
  • An unrivalled therapeutic training programme

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