recruitment and retention

Retention and recruitment of foster carers – research findings

Ensuring there are sufficient numbers of skilled and knowledgeable foster carers is one of the biggest challenges currently facing the fostering sector. This research explores what works to retain foster carers – ultimately so we are able to meet all the needs of children in care, both now and in the future. It also sought to develop a better understanding of the recruitment foster carers in England.

Fri, 12/09/2022 - 10:26 By Daisy Elliott on December,9th 2022

Foster Carer Exit Interview Toolkit

Project overview

The Foster Carer Retention Project aimed to support fostering services to:

  • capture all of the reasons why foster carers leave their fostering service
  • identify the optimum timings for processing exit interviews
  • identify any themes as to the reasons why foster carers choose to leave
  • create a robust process for future exit interviews
  • embed learning to enhance retention and subsequent recruitment of foster carers.
     

Wed, 05/23/2018 - 11:03 By Michelle.Galbraith on May,23rd 2018

Recruitment and retention resources

Free resources

Needs analysis template

Created by the Department for Education and The Fostering Network, the needs analysis template is the starting point for all fostering services to inform a recruitment and retention strategy. 

Needs analysis template

Tue, 12/15/2015 - 14:51 By admin on December,15th 2015

Managing vacancies

Recruitment is a year-round activity and fostering services need to recruit to replace foster carers who are leaving the service for many different reasons.

Tue, 12/15/2015 - 14:38 By admin on December,15th 2015

Fostering statistics

The statistics below provide a picture of the care system on just one day of the year. Around 38,000 more children come into care over the course of 12 months, with similar numbers leaving the care system to return home, move in with another family member, live with new adoptive families, become subject to a special guardianship or residence order or move on to adult life.
Tue, 12/15/2015 - 12:30 By admin on December,15th 2015