Foster cares should be registered

According to the charity, Foster care remains the only childcare profession where workers are not registered with a body of any form.

Plans are already in motion to register all residential social workers with the General Social Care Council. Now the Fostering Network is advocating similar requirements for Foster carers. This request coincides with the report stage of the Children and Young Person's Bill in the House of Commons.

Robert Tapsfield, chief executive of the Fostering Network, said: "Registration would ensure that foster carers get the status and recognition that their role demands and improve the respect and treatment they get from the other professionals they work with."

"At present, if a foster carer wants to change fostering service they have to reapply. A central register would mean that foster carers would not have to be reapproved when they move and there would be a central record of any concerns about their practice, which social workers could refer to.

"We hope the MPs debating this Bill today use this opportunity to ensure that no corners are cut when it comes to children in care," he said.