Choosing between a Local Authority (LA) and an Independent Fostering Agency (IFA) is one of the first big decisions prospective foster carers face. Both routes approve you to foster and both can provide excellent support—but they’re set up differently, commission placements differently, and often offer different payment structures, training, and day-to-day support. The “best” option depends on your circumstances, the types of children you hope to support, and what you value most as a carer. Here’s a clear, balanced guide to help you decide.
How the two systems work
Local Authorities are responsible for children in their care. They recruit, assess, approve and support their own pool of foster carers and try to place children with those carers first (this is sometimes called “in-house” placement). Because referrals originate inside the LA, in-house carers may get early sight of local referrals and can sometimes benefit from shorter decision chains when social workers already know the child.
Independent Fostering Agencies are separate organisations (not part of a council). They’re commissioned by LAs when the in-house pool is full or a child needs a specialist match (therapeutic care, complex behaviours, large sibling groups, parent & child, out-of-area, or short-notice placements). Many IFAs build services around enhanced support—for example, 24/7 on-call, therapeutic supervision, and specialist training—and their payment packages usually combine a child maintenance allowance with a carer fee/skill payment.
Pay, allowances and fees
Whichever route you choose, there will be a child’s allowance (to cover day-to-day costs like food, clothing, utilities, transport, activities) and, in most cases, a fee that recognises your role and skills. LA schemes vary, but often show the allowance and fee as two separate lines. IFAs commonly quote a single weekly package that includes both elements. IFAs sometimes pay more overall, particularly for complex or hard-to-match placements; in-house LA packages can be broadly comparable when you factor in retainers, respite, mileage, birthdays/holidays and local top-ups.
What to check:
- Ask each provider to separate the child’s allowance from the carer fee and list typical add-ons (retainers between placements, mileage rates, equipment, birthday/holiday payments).
- Confirm age bands, regional banding (for England), and how uplifts are applied each April.
- Understand payment rules during gaps (retainers), notice periods, and how cancellations are handled if a placement ends suddenly.
Support, training and supervision
Support model. Many LAs run strong locality teams with supervisory visits, support groups and access to Virtual Schools, CAMHS, and in-house contact teams. IFAs often emphasise high-touch support: 24/7 out-of-hours lines staffed by social workers, therapeutic parenting frameworks (like PACE), and clinical consultation for carers.
Training. Both routes will provide pre-approval training (e.g., Skills to Foster) and continuous professional development. IFAs sometimes deliver specialist modules (trauma/attachment, de-escalation, parent & child assessment skills) and may pay training fees or expenses. LAs may offer direct access to school inclusion teams, participation groups, and cross-service workshops.
Supervision and peer networks. Ask about frequency of supervision, support groups, Mockingbird/constellation models, and whether there’s buddying/mentoring for newly approved carers. If you’re new, being able to pick up the phone at 10pm and talk to someone who knows you can be priceless.
Matching and placement types
Local patterns matter. LAs place the majority of children locally, so if you’re approved in-house you may be offered a broader mix of local placements—especially routine short-term or long-term matches. IFAs are frequently called for time-sensitive or specialist needs: emergency placements at short notice, sibling groups who must stay together, or children who need therapeutic or solo placements.
What this means for you:
- If you want to prioritise very local placements, an LA may have more nearby referrals.
- If you’re motivated by therapeutic work or parent & child, look closely at IFAs with established specialist teams and clinical support.
Admin, recording and professional expectations
Both routes require robust recording, attendance at reviews/meetings, health and safety, and safer caring. Expect unannounced visits, annual reviews, and regular supervision. Some IFAs provide digital recording tools and templates; some LAs integrate with their internal systems, which can streamline information sharing with schools and health. Ask for a demo of the recording platform, how contact is supported, and how quickly you’ll get help if allegations or standards-of-care issues arise.
Ofsted (England) or national inspectorates
In England, both LA fostering services and IFAs are inspected by Ofsted; in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland there are equivalent inspection bodies. Ratings don’t tell the whole story, but they do show whether leadership, safeguarding and quality of practice are strong. Look beyond the grade: read the most recent report, check strengths and areas for improvement, and ask the provider how they’ve addressed actions from the last inspection.
Transfers if you’re already a carer
Transferring between an LA and an IFA (or vice versa) is common. A transfer involves references, updated checks, and sometimes a shortened Form F addendum rather than starting from scratch. Key points:
- Give contractual notice to your current provider and understand any rules about open placements during the transfer.
- Ask the new provider to put their offer in writing (fees, support, respite, training expectations).
- Clarify how your approval terms (e.g., age range, number of children, sibling groups) will move across.
Pros and cons at a glance
Local Authority – strengths
- Early access to local referrals; fewer layers between referring social worker and fostering team.
- Potentially closer ties to schools, health, contact services and local support hubs.
- Clear public accountability and integration with Leaving Care/Staying Put teams.
Local Authority – watch-outs
- Package clarity varies; some carers feel allowances/fees are less flexible for complex needs.
- Out-of-hours responsiveness and carer-to-social worker ratios can differ by area.
- Fewer niche therapeutic/parent-and-child placements in some localities.
Independent Fostering Agency – strengths
- Often enhanced support: 24/7 on-call, therapeutic supervision, specialist training.
- Typically stronger fee packages for complex placements; clear breakdown of allowance vs fee.
- Experience matching sibling groups, solo placements, and specialist needs across multiple LAs.
Independent Fostering Agency – watch-outs
- Placements may be wider-area (more driving for school/contact).
- Availability depends on LA commissioning; quiet spells between matches can happen—check retainer policy.
- Quality varies across providers—inspect Ofsted reports, turnover, and caseloads.
Questions to ask before you choose
- Matching & demand: What kinds of referrals are most common in my area? Average time between approval and first placement?
- Support: How does your out-of-hours work? What’s the average supervising social worker caseload? Do you offer therapeutic consultation?
- Money: What’s the weekly allowance vs fee for, say, an 11–15 placement? What about mileage, retainers, birthday/holiday payments, and equipment?
- Training & progression: Which courses do you fund? Is there a pathway (e.g., to therapeutic, parent & child or Mockingbird hub) that changes the fee level?
- Admin & recording: What system do I use? Will I get templates? How are allegations handled, and what practical support do you provide?
- Inspections: What did your last inspection praise, and what have you improved since?
So… which is best?
There isn’t a single winner—there’s the best fit for you.
- Choose a Local Authority if you want to foster close to home, value integrated relationships with local services, and prefer to be part of the council’s in-house team that sees referrals first.
- Choose an Independent Fostering Agency if you’re keen on specialist placements, therapeutic practice, and high-touch support, and you’re comfortable travelling further or being flexible about geography.
Many carers thrive in both settings over the course of their fostering journey—some start with an LA to support local children, then transfer to an IFA for specialist work; others do the reverse to reduce travel or be closer to a specific school or CAMHS team. The key is to compare real offers side-by-side, speak to current carers, and prioritise support quality alongside the finances.