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Independent Review of Children's Social Care (England)

The Fostering Network welcomes the commitment from the Government to review the care system in England. At present, there are more children in care in England than there ever has been. An independent, rigorous and evidence-based review of the care system, accompanied by sufficient funding, has the potential to create long-term positive change for children in care. Three-quarters of children in care are in foster care, meaning that fostering must take a central part in the review.  
 

Mon, 02/24/2020 - 16:14 By Daisy Elliott on February,24th 2020

Fostering Inquiry (England)

  • The Fostering Network was instrumental in convincing the committee of the need for this Inquiry.
  • Written evidence was invited up to the 25 November and we encouraged our supporters and members to contribute.
  • The Committee published their report of the Inquiry in December 2017.  Their recommendations came under three categories of: valuing young people, valuing foster carers, and valuing car
Fri, 12/09/2016 - 11:45 By Kieran McGuire on December,9th 2016

Other research

EU Nationals: Foster Carers and Fostered Children - 2018

Following on from the Government initiating the official EU withdrawal process in March 2017, there was – and continues to be – much speculation as what would happen to EU nationals who were currently residing in the UK. The Fostering Network received enquiries from fostering services worrying about approving people as foster carers who were non-UK EU nationals, and also about the long-term stability of placing fostered children with foster carers who were non-UK EU nationals. 

Wed, 12/23/2015 - 15:11 By admin on December,23rd 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

Maintaining contact with former foster carers

 

The Fostering Network agrees with the conclusion of the Care Inquiry that relationships are the "golden thread" running through a child's life. These relationships may be multiple and diverse.

Tue, 12/15/2015 - 14:34 By admin on December,15th 2015

Combining fostering and other work

 

The children and young people needing foster care today have many different needs but all require their foster carers to be skilled, knowledgeable, committed to them and recognised as a key professional in the team that supports them.

Despite this, many foster carers are not paid for the skills, time and expertise they bring to fostering. Of those who are paid, only a minority receive anything resembling a living wage, although a very small number do get significant fee payments.

Tue, 12/15/2015 - 14:32 By admin on December,15th 2015

Status and authority

 

As the person who lives with and looks after a fostered child on a day-to-day basis, foster carers are often the team member who knows and understands them best. But we regularly hear from foster carers who say they are not recognised and treated as such, and are not given all the information they need and the authority to make day-to-day decisions.

Tue, 12/15/2015 - 14:27 By admin on December,15th 2015
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