What impact does being an ethical agency have on our young people, carers and staff?

Team Fostering are a non-profit fostering agency. Unlike some agencies, any surplus made goes back into the service we provide. This includes offering a range of opportunities and comprehensive support for our children and young people, as well as for foster carers and staff. We're an agency member of The Fairer Fostering Partnership, a group of independent agencies who share the belief that children should always come before profit.
While the primary benefits of choosing a non-profit fostering agency include the likes of more extensive support and varied opportunities, operating as a social enterprise has an impact other areas of the business, too:

Business Practice: Running an ethical business is about doing the right thing. That means acting in ways that are transparent, fair and honest. It’s also about being aware of the implications of our actions and the effect that they have on other people and the environment.

Employment: We strive hard to be a great employer, which includes offering flexible working, compassionate leave and a good working environment.

Equality: We’re here to provide a service for all children and young people who need it, not excluding or discriminating against anyone because of their gender, ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability or nationality.

Foster Carer Recruitment Assessment and Training: Only those people we are confident about are taken on as foster carers. That means we will only accept an application if we believe that someone has shown the potential for being an excellent foster carer and that what they can offer will be used by Local Authorities.

Support for Children, Young People and Foster Carers: When you get a placement with Team Fostering, you’re getting a wraparound service, tailored to each child’s individual needs and supported in a holistic way. The support we offer to foster carers and children goes well beyond what we are required to provide in our contracts with Local Authorities.

Inclusion and Involvement: Openness and dialogue are essential components of an ethical business. We listen to people because they know what’s going on and because they matter to us.

Matching and Placements: We will only ever place a child if it is assessed as being within their best interests. If for any reason we don’t believe that the proposed placement is best for their welfare, we will not allow it to go ahead. This ensures the welfare of not only the child, but those living in the home of the foster carer.

Suppliers: We believe it’s important to treat our suppliers ethically. This includes valuing the relationships we have with suppliers who provide a good service rather that choosing anything on the basis of price alone.

The Environment: We are trying to reduce our impact on the environment and become a carbon neutral company.

Promoting Foster Care: We take every opportunity to raise the profile of foster care, including participating in initiatives on a national level. We do not actively seek recruitment of foster carers who are currently with other agencies, but leave our door open should they choose to come to us. We build up positive partnerships with relevant organisations, charities and agencies to ensure that more and more people begin to consider fostering as a career. 

​If you're interested in joining us as a non-profit agency or would like further information on what it means to be an ethical fostering agency, send an enquiry here.

Source:
http://www.teamfostering.co.uk

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