Shortage of foster carers leads to sibling separation and far away placements
Children in care are being placed with foster families away from their local communities, and sibling groups are being separated, the UK’s leading fostering charity has warned.
During Foster Care Fortnight, The Fostering Network says that a lack of foster carers is resulting in brothers and sisters being placed in separate placements while other children [...]
Practice needs to urgently improve around allegations in foster care, warns charity
There is an urgent need to improve practice around allegation investigations in foster care, a fostering charity has warned.
The Fostering Network says the impact of poor support and lengthy procedures causes foster families high levels of stress, many consider leaving the workforce, and children and young people who need foster care suffer as a [...]
Status of foster care has to improve
All fostering services in the UK should implement a foster carers’ charter to improve the status of foster care, the Fostering Network has urged.
The charity’s latest report shows that foster carers are not treated with the respect and value their vital role warrants, and not given the support they need to help children thrive.
Kevin [...]
Recruitment and retention of foster carers remains challenging
Recruiting and retaining sufficient foster carers with the right skillset to support vulnerable children continues to pose a problem for local authorities, trusts and independent fostering agencies, the State of the Nation’s Foster Care 2021 has said.
The pressures within the system, and the lack of availability of foster families, results in poorer outcomes for [...]
Over 8,500 foster carers required in UK to meet demand
More than 8,500 foster carers are required across the UK next year, The Fostering Network has warned.
Taking into consideration factors such as the percentage of the foster carer workforce leaving each year and the change in the numbers of children in care, the charity states that more than 8,500 foster carers are needed to look [...]
Foster carers needed for teenagers and sibling groups
There is an urgent need for foster carers to care for teenagers and sibling groups, the Fostering Network has warned.
The charity states that more than 7,000 new foster families are needed in the coming year to ensure that all children can be found the right foster home first time. The new figures, calculated by The [...]
