Specialist fostering reduces reoffending rates

A study into a pilot of the initiative showed that a year after young people were placed in specialist fostering just under half reoffended, compared with eight out of 10 among a comparison group of offenders living in the community.

It was also found that seven out of 10 offenders fostered were either in education or training a year after the programme started, compared to just three out of 10 among the comparison group.

But the study says further research is needed into the long-term benefits of such specialist fostering support. It points out that shortly after leaving the programme some young offenders struggled to adapt and it is at this time they were more likely to reoffend.

The study says: "This points to the need to rethink what resettlement from intensive fostering ought to look like." It adds: "For example, associating with pro-criminal peers appeared to swamp the positive effects of having been on the intensive fostering programme."

Among its recommendations is that the intensive fostering pilot continues. The study acknowledges that fostering managers have since improved the way offenders are resettled when the placement ends but there still needs to be improvements in longer-term support.

The intensive fostering pilot, in the west of England, London and Staffordshire, is based on the Multi-Dimensional Treatment Foster Care model, which had been developed by the Oregon Social Learning Centre in the US.

The Anti-social Behaviour Act (2003) gave courts the option of using intensive fostering as part of a supervision order.