BSN Social Care announces dual acquisition

The parent company of two of the UK’s leading fostering agencies has announced the acquisition of Cardiff and Carmarthen based Pathway Care Ltd from the NFA Group and the carers and teams from NFA’s activities in Norfolk and Hitchin that had been operated by Swan Fostering and Fostering Solutions.

Advised by law firm Blake Morgan, BSN Social Care is now the parent company for Pathway Care Ltd along with independent fostering agencies Blue Sky Fostering and Nexus Fostering. The Group was first founded in 2014.

Pathway Care is the leading provider of foster care in Wales. The 45 strong team which will be re-branded as Pathway Fostering Cymru, supports approximately 230 foster carers and 200 children and young people across South and West Wales, from offices in Cardiff and Carmarthen.

NFA’s team of 12 in Norfolk and Hitchin will join Nexus Fostering, enhancing its ability to support Local Authorities in the region and providing carers and staff access to its Ofsted rated ‘Outstanding’ support.

Grace Wyatt and Simon Lockyer from BSN Social Care said: “We are delighted to be able to offer a secure home to the Foster Carers and staff based in Wales, Norwich and Luton. We are confident that we will be able to continue the excellent work already undertaken by NFA and Acorn and are committed to ensuring that children and young people continue to receive the highest level of care moving forward. ”

Iain Anderson, Group Chief Executive of NFA Group said: “I am delighted that our carers and employees will be transferring to BSN Social Care Ltd who have an excellent reputation and focus on providing the very best of outcomes for children and young people. Their culture matches that of NFA Group and I am confident our staff and carers will be happy and successful with them.”

Robert Greene, Commercial Director of BSN said, ’’Following the Group’s decision last year to accelerate its growth strategy to optimise our ability to support the increasingly complex needs of the Local Authorities and children and young people we work with, we are delighted to introduce Pathway Care Ltd and NFA’s activities in Norfolk and Hitchin to the Group. These teams share our belief in providing a high quality service which puts the needs of the children at its core. These acquisitions significantly expand our geographic reach and carer base and we look forward to working with their staff and carers. The Group will continue to look for opportunities which will enhance our ability to support looked after children throughout the UK.”

Robert Cherry of Blake Morgan advised BSN Social Care on the acquisitions. He said: “The team at BSN is focussed on delivering outstanding outcomes for some of the UK’s most vulnerable young people. The business remains owned and managed by the original founders; both of whom continue to provide an award winning service that is rated outstanding by Ofsted. As a firm, we are very proud to support their continued growth and wish them every success.”