Comment: Ofsted Fostering in England report

Steve Crocker, ADCS President, said:

“These latest statistics from Ofsted are worrying and highlight the need for urgent focus and investment from government in assisting local authorities in recruiting and retaining the foster carers we desperately need. The number of children in our care is increasing but we have a national shortage of foster carers. When in house provision is unavailable or does not meet children’s needs, local authorities often use independent fostering agencies to find homes for children, however, the continuing high cost of these placements was highlighted as a significant funding pressure by respondents to our latest Safeguarding Pressures research. Local authorities are working hard to ensure there are enough homes available for children locally by investing in local and regional campaigns to recruit new foster carers and retain existing ones, but we need a national campaign that builds upon the goodwill generated by exposure such as the current John Lewis advertisement. A wider pool of foster carers is a good thing for children because greater placement choice means greater placement stability. We need the government to commit to centrally funding a national foster care recruitment and retention campaign without delay. It should focus on the value of foster carers and the difference they make, so we can ensure the right foster home is available at the right time, for every child.”

ENDS

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