Changes to Fostering in Wales

The Welsh Government is enacting an ambitious plan for children’s social care. The Health and Social Care (Wales) Bill will have the positive impact of ending the ability for firms to profit from the provision of foster care for vulnerable children in Wales.

From April 2027, for profit fostering agencies will no longer be able to register new carers, and from April 2030, for profit fostering agencies will be prohibited from operating in Wales.

This will affect foster carers who are registered with for profit agencies. Often foster carers are unaware that their agency is run for profit or who the ultimate owners of their agency might be. The agencies do not advertise their complex ownership structures on their websites.

Alongside Foster Wales, there are already several fostering charities in Wales. Being charities means that every penny received must be spent on supporting our foster families and children, and no money is spent on dividends to executives, owners or shareholders.

Below are links to charitable and not for profit fostering agencies who you might consider fostering for. The Welsh Government have set a reasonable timeline, so you have plenty of time to research alternative agencies and make a decision ahead of April 2030.