Home Children, Young People & Families TRUE Fostering Becomes One of The First Employee-Owned Trusts (EOT) In The Sector  

TRUE Fostering Becomes One of The First Employee-Owned Trusts (EOT) In The Sector  

by Lisa Carr

Marking a bold evolution in the fostering sector, TRUE Fostering has taken the visionary step of transitioning to an Employee-Owned Trust (EOT) structure. This groundbreaking move not only positions the agency as a front-runner in adopting this model, but also solidifies its unwavering dedication to the wellbeing of children and foster families.  

From its inception, TRUE Fostering, which operates under the Centre of Excellence in Child Trauma (CoECT) umbrella, has consistently set higher standards with its holistic and therapeutic approach to care – a commitment recently acknowledged with an ‘Outstanding’ rating from Ofsted.  

Sarah Naish, Director at TRUE Fostering, CoECT Founder, and former foster parent and social worker, said:  

“The shift to an EOT is more than just structural; it’s a reflection of the agency’s intrinsic values. The EOT model reinforces our deep-rooted commitment to the families and children in our care. It affords us the freedom to innovate and provide unparalleled, in-depth support, aligning even more closely with the needs of our community.  

“This transformation heralds a significant cultural evolution within TRUE Fostering, signifying our intent to deliver our own services, for example, savings for children, and offering tangible benefits to our foster parents. This move doesn’t merely challenge the status quo of corporate-centric models; it sets a benchmark for a people-first, benefit-driven approach in fostering – a model others may find challenging to emulate.”  

Paul Dolyniuk, Regional Director at SME Capital, commented: 

“TRUE Fostering is a genuine pioneer in the fostering industry and its recent OFSTED ‘Outstanding’ rating is testament to the extensive value and proven impact achieved via its innovative operating model. With deep professional and personal experience in foster care, Sarah and the management team truly understand their market and the needs of foster children and parents alike. We are therefore delighted to support TRUE Fostering’s transition to full employee ownership and we wish Sarah and the team every success as they bring the benefits of the TRUE model to even more families and communities.” 

With significant operations spanning South West England, the Midlands and East Anglia, TRUE Fostering’s dedication to grassroots community efforts remains at its heart. The innovative ‘fostering pods’ concept is a shining example, aiming to fortify regional care networks with localised support and training.   

Sarah Naish added: “We want to thank SME Capital. The support we have received has been instrumental – the team provided TRUE Fostering with the necessary financial framework that allowed us to enable the shareholder buyout and establish the EOT model.”  

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