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New guidance which aims to provide a framework of best practice to assist all parties in the implementation of staying put is being launched at the charity's conference taking place today in Durham. Staying Put: Guidance for Children and Young People Services, Fostering Services and Leaving Care Services is based on the legislation, statutory guidance and standards that govern services for looked after children, care leavers and fostering services in England.

From Kevin Williams, chief executive of The Fostering Network:

Now the furore from this week’s headline-dominating fostering story has begun to die down, it seems a good time for a moment’s considered reflection on some of the very important issues the story raised.

Responding to the warning by the Local Government Association which represents more than 370 councils in England and Wales, that children's social care is at breaking point, The Fostering Network said: ‘Like the LGA, we have been concerned for some time that the pressure on children’s social care budgets is becoming unsustainable.

In the tribunal case brought by foster carers James and Christine Johnstone against Glasgow City Council, Mr and Mrs Johnstone were judged to be employees of the council in their role within the Multi-Dimensional Treatment Foster Care team.

In his ruling yesterday, Judge McFatridge stated: ‘In finding for the claimants in this case I am not in any way making a finding about the status of ordinary mainstream foster carers. What I am saying is that on the basis of the facts in the current case, the claimants were employees of the respondents.’

This new innovative programme will help foster carers and all those who work with fostered children and young people to understand and respond holistically to the child, recognising that good relationships are central to promoting social, physical and emotional wellbeing.

Responding to the publication of The Fostering System in England which was commissioned to inform the Westminster Government's national stocktake of fostering, Jackie Sanders, director of communications and public affairs at The Fostering Network said: 'The literature review is a comprehensive round up of the significant issues surrounding fostering in 2017. We are pleased that the reviewers have highlighted the positive impact that foster care has on fostered children and young people.

Responding to the article in Community Care Children’s services directors wary of moves to ‘professionalise’ foster carers, Kevin Williams, chief executive of The Fostering Network, said: ‘To debate whether or not using the term professional would be appropriate for foster carers is a redundant argument.

We welcome the new chair of the Westminster Education Committee, Robert Halfon MP, who was elected yesterday.

The Education Committee is the cross-party parliamentary body, independent of Government, that scrutinises the work of the Department for Education. The committee therefore has an important role in holding the Westminster Government to account.

The Fostering Network will be reading the Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices with interest, especially in regards to if, or how, its findings and recommendations might be applied to foster care.

We extend a warm welcome to the new Minister of State for Children and Families in England, Robert Goodwill, and hope that under his watch there will be a greater emphasis on foster care than under previous parliaments.