In a move advocating for significant systemic change, the Centre of Excellence in Child Trauma (CoECT) urges UK fostering agencies to transition to not-for-profit operations, prioritising child welfare over financial gain. This demand for reform champions the redirection of funds into quality care and comprehensive support for foster children and their families.
TRUE Fostering and SAFER Fostering, agencies that sit within the CoECT umbrella, are leading the way, with TRUE Fostering being an Employee-Owned Trust (one of the first) and SAFER being a not-for-profit organisation.
The CoECT’s advocacy is rooted in transparency, ethical responsibility, and an unwavering dedication to child welfare. The organisation and its partners argue that financial commodification shouldn’t be allowed to erode the sanctity of our collective mission: to provide every child with a safe haven that fosters trust, healing, and the joy of childhood.
Investigations in recent years have revealed a concerning flow of funds away from essential services and support systems. As a result, the fostering community has struggled due to inadequate resources.
Sarah Naish, CEO and Founder of CoECT, former Foster Parent and Social Worker, and Director of both TRUE and SAFER Fostering, said:
“We’ve witnessed a concerning paradigm where the intrinsic value of care is being traded for profit, undermining the very ethos of nurturing and protection that should define our fostering agencies. Funds currently siphoned off for shareholder dividends in these large, private entities should be reinvested into the sector. This means enhanced training, comprehensive support, and robust therapeutic measures for both foster parents/carers and children. It is only by prioritising funding in this way, that we can truly give our children AND their foster parents the stability they are entitled to.
“Let’s not forget that fostering is an emotional commitment, a calling answered by individuals ready to embrace both its challenges and its rewards. It requires more than just goodwill; it demands a robust support system acknowledging the complex layers of trauma these children often carry.”
Echoing progressive movements from Wales, which is setting a precedent by committing to eliminate private profit from the care of looked after children, and working exclusively with not-for-profit fostering services, CoECT sees this as a pivotal moment for the rest of the UK. “The heart of fostering is neither commercial nor transactional. It’s about providing spaces of healing and growth for some of our society’s most vulnerable members. Redirecting the focus from profit to people is not just necessary; it’s ethically non-negotiable,” Sarah Naish added.
This call to action is not about diminishing the sector’s value but enhancing the quality and impact of its services. It’s about acknowledging and honouring the human aspect of care, ensuring every individual involved in the fostering process receives the respect, support, and dedication they deserve.
The Centre of Excellence in Child Trauma firmly believes that Social Workers, Therapists, Foster Carers and staff should be properly rewarded for the intense and difficult work they do. This includes proper pensions, health care and future proof savings to assist young adults as they exit the care system.
Sarah Naish said: “This is not about cutting payments for those working so hard with our most complex and vulnerable children. It’s about reducing the glut of overpayments from those who merely desire it, back towards those who need it. In this way, Local Authorities will be able to afford quality homes and spaces in which our children will thrive.”
Alison Douglas, Operations Manager at SAfER Fostering, said:
“SAfER and TRUE Fostering have a unique model whereby foster families are treated with the respect they deserve, and as genuine co-professionals within the team. Training in therapeutic parenting is provided for every foster parent and employee. Learning alongside each other cements everyone’s understanding and ensures that we are all working together for the benefit of the children in our care.
“The agencies focus on only recruiting people who are open and able to work in this way, and once approved, they are well supported. This therefore creates an incredible level of stability for children and young people, envied by other agencies. We have well-resourced services that support our families, because we care about what we do and know this model works. Further, we are not distracted by shareholders demanding unrealistic KPIs, like most of the larger agencies whose continued focus on growth and profit can lead to inappropriate recruitment, low quality training and poor matching. In turn, this leads to breakdowns and children having to move which is disastrous for them. For us, it is not about quantity, it is about quality, and supporting children to remain within families long term – where this is their care plan.”
Reaffirming the CoECT’s commitment to this cause, Sarah Naish said: “We advocate for a fostering future where success isn’t measured by profit margins, but by enriched lives and healed hearts. To prospective foster carers, know that this journey is demanding but deeply rewarding, and you deserve a support system that sees you, hears you, and uplifts you every step of the way.”
In rallying for this transformative approach, CoECT invites communities, stakeholders, and policymakers to partake in this journey of reshaping the fostering narrative. A narrative that resonates with compassion, integrity, and the unwavering belief in human potential.
For a fostering system that prizes human connection and recovery, the shift towards not-for-profit is not just a new chapter; it’s a sign of evolving societal values.
Vanessa McCarthy, Foster Parent at SAfER Fostering, who has previously worked for a large corporate agency, said:
“What I love about SAfER is their therapeutic and non-profit approach, which enables them to focus on the important aspects of fostering – ‘the child as an individual and their needs’. When you compare these not-for-profit agencies with other more corporate agencies, you can see a big difference – they are often driven by hidden agendas, politics and targets.
“When you are part of a not-for-profit like SAfER, you receive a high level of support and extensive training, without the feeling of a hierarchy. It feels like one big team that shares one common goal to nurture, support, and enrich our children’s lives in order to reduce trauma and to aid healing.”
The Centre of Excellence in Child Trauma Calls for UK Fostering Agencies to Adopt Not-for-Profit Models
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In a move advocating for significant systemic change, the Centre of Excellence in Child Trauma (CoECT) urges UK fostering agencies to transition to not-for-profit operations, prioritising child welfare over financial gain. This demand for reform champions the redirection of funds into quality care and comprehensive support for foster children and their families.
TRUE Fostering and SAFER Fostering, agencies that sit within the CoECT umbrella, are leading the way, with TRUE Fostering being an Employee-Owned Trust (one of the first) and SAFER being a not-for-profit organisation.
The CoECT’s advocacy is rooted in transparency, ethical responsibility, and an unwavering dedication to child welfare. The organisation and its partners argue that financial commodification shouldn’t be allowed to erode the sanctity of our collective mission: to provide every child with a safe haven that fosters trust, healing, and the joy of childhood.
Investigations in recent years have revealed a concerning flow of funds away from essential services and support systems. As a result, the fostering community has struggled due to inadequate resources.
Sarah Naish, CEO and Founder of CoECT, former Foster Parent and Social Worker, and Director of both TRUE and SAFER Fostering, said:
“We’ve witnessed a concerning paradigm where the intrinsic value of care is being traded for profit, undermining the very ethos of nurturing and protection that should define our fostering agencies. Funds currently siphoned off for shareholder dividends in these large, private entities should be reinvested into the sector. This means enhanced training, comprehensive support, and robust therapeutic measures for both foster parents/carers and children. It is only by prioritising funding in this way, that we can truly give our children AND their foster parents the stability they are entitled to.
“Let’s not forget that fostering is an emotional commitment, a calling answered by individuals ready to embrace both its challenges and its rewards. It requires more than just goodwill; it demands a robust support system acknowledging the complex layers of trauma these children often carry.”
Echoing progressive movements from Wales, which is setting a precedent by committing to eliminate private profit from the care of looked after children, and working exclusively with not-for-profit fostering services, CoECT sees this as a pivotal moment for the rest of the UK. “The heart of fostering is neither commercial nor transactional. It’s about providing spaces of healing and growth for some of our society’s most vulnerable members. Redirecting the focus from profit to people is not just necessary; it’s ethically non-negotiable,” Sarah Naish added.
This call to action is not about diminishing the sector’s value but enhancing the quality and impact of its services. It’s about acknowledging and honouring the human aspect of care, ensuring every individual involved in the fostering process receives the respect, support, and dedication they deserve.
The Centre of Excellence in Child Trauma firmly believes that Social Workers, Therapists, Foster Carers and staff should be properly rewarded for the intense and difficult work they do. This includes proper pensions, health care and future proof savings to assist young adults as they exit the care system.
Sarah Naish said: “This is not about cutting payments for those working so hard with our most complex and vulnerable children. It’s about reducing the glut of overpayments from those who merely desire it, back towards those who need it. In this way, Local Authorities will be able to afford quality homes and spaces in which our children will thrive.”
Alison Douglas, Operations Manager at SAfER Fostering, said:
“SAfER and TRUE Fostering have a unique model whereby foster families are treated with the respect they deserve, and as genuine co-professionals within the team. Training in therapeutic parenting is provided for every foster parent and employee. Learning alongside each other cements everyone’s understanding and ensures that we are all working together for the benefit of the children in our care.
“The agencies focus on only recruiting people who are open and able to work in this way, and once approved, they are well supported. This therefore creates an incredible level of stability for children and young people, envied by other agencies. We have well-resourced services that support our families, because we care about what we do and know this model works. Further, we are not distracted by shareholders demanding unrealistic KPIs, like most of the larger agencies whose continued focus on growth and profit can lead to inappropriate recruitment, low quality training and poor matching. In turn, this leads to breakdowns and children having to move which is disastrous for them. For us, it is not about quantity, it is about quality, and supporting children to remain within families long term – where this is their care plan.”
Reaffirming the CoECT’s commitment to this cause, Sarah Naish said: “We advocate for a fostering future where success isn’t measured by profit margins, but by enriched lives and healed hearts. To prospective foster carers, know that this journey is demanding but deeply rewarding, and you deserve a support system that sees you, hears you, and uplifts you every step of the way.”
In rallying for this transformative approach, CoECT invites communities, stakeholders, and policymakers to partake in this journey of reshaping the fostering narrative. A narrative that resonates with compassion, integrity, and the unwavering belief in human potential.
For a fostering system that prizes human connection and recovery, the shift towards not-for-profit is not just a new chapter; it’s a sign of evolving societal values.
Vanessa McCarthy, Foster Parent at SAfER Fostering, who has previously worked for a large corporate agency, said:
“What I love about SAfER is their therapeutic and non-profit approach, which enables them to focus on the important aspects of fostering – ‘the child as an individual and their needs’. When you compare these not-for-profit agencies with other more corporate agencies, you can see a big difference – they are often driven by hidden agendas, politics and targets.
“When you are part of a not-for-profit like SAfER, you receive a high level of support and extensive training, without the feeling of a hierarchy. It feels like one big team that shares one common goal to nurture, support, and enrich our children’s lives in order to reduce trauma and to aid healing.”