Though there are some wide social and macro-economic issues at play we are not helpless in the face of these and there is much that we can do.
The latest figures from the Department for Education show that only 125,195 initial applications were received by local authorities and independent foster agencies in 2022/23 – the lowest level since current records began in 2017/18. Those of us in the sector are aware that this is the toughest carer recruitment market experienced in the last 30 years
Meanwhile, a recent study of more than 2,500 foster carers found that three quarters of foster carers report that feeling undervalued in their role is forcing them to consider resigning from the role. A failure to urgently address foster carer recruitment will lead to spiralling LA children’s social care costs, as more residential care is used, and more LAs will declare bankruptcy.
The DfE has launched carer recruitment pathfinders in the North Eat and elsewhere. These are welcome but these pathfinders will still lead to the local authorities having fewer foster carers than they started with, owing to attrition rates. The Independent Review of Children’s Social Care recommended a national foster carer recruitment campaign, and this has not been enacted.
We urgently need the focus DfE give to the recruitment of teachers, to be extended to foster care. John Lewis and KFC have produced adverts celebrating foster care, but the DfE has not, and this is a sorry state of affairs state of affairs. The KFC advert shows what can be done: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI22NT5LhJA
On carer retention, the DfE-led Fostering Advisory Board (FAB), has undertaken good work on promoting delegated authority and addressing the allegations process. Improving both will have a positive impact on retention, as the daily/weekly battles that carers face getting agreement for various normal childhood activities wears carers down, and the allegations process often leads to carers leaving, not because allegations are upheld, but because the process is so bruising. However, it is important that these changes are made at pace.
What we need children’s minister Janet Daby to do is to form a Task and Finish group to design a national approach to foster carer recruitment and implement it as soon as practicable. We suggest that the group is made up of representatives from IFAs, LAs, and fostering support organisations. It must also have access to recruitment and marketing expertise from similar sectors. All members must be prepared to share all knowledge and intelligence on foster carer recruitment. Any campaign must benefit all fostering providers, and we must all work constructively together to address this crisis.
Given retention is the other side of the foster care capacity coin, we also need another Task and Finish group that looks at support and services for foster carers and devises a service level agreement that can be mandated across fostering providers, setting required standards on financial and pastoral support, as well as training and development. Adherence to these standards can form part of the inspection framework ongoing.
Foster Care is the backbone of the care system. Most children in care are in foster care. Long term underinvestment in foster care, and no national leadership from the DfE on carer recruitment has contributed to the current situation. Investment in foster care will deliver clear benefits to children, as outcomes for children who grow up in foster care are better than for those in residential or unregulated care. It will also deliver substantial financial savings. Based on a very conservative estimate that foster care is £2500 a week cheaper than residential/unregulated care, increasing overall foster care capacity by 5000 places will deliver at least £650 million a year in savings.
Andy Elvin is chief executive of TACT Fostering
