CYP Now - Fostering stocktake proposals 'place vulnerable children at risk'

Proposals put forward as part of a government-commissioned review of the fostering system would place vulnerable children at risk, a professional association has warned.

The stocktake, published earlier this month, makes a total of 36 recommendations, including the establishment of a national register of foster carers, and for improvements to be made to placement commissioning.

But the suggestion that local authorities should be allowed to ditch the independent reviewing officer (IRO) role, which scrutinises local authority care plans for looked-after children, taking into account the views of the child, has been criticised by both Nagalro, a professional association for social workers, and the National Association of Independent Reviewing Officers (Nairo).

Nagalro said it "strongly believes that such a move would put vulnerable children at real risk".

"The task of the IRO is to be the voice of the children, who cannot speak out for themselves," said Sukhchandan Kaur, acting chair of Nagalro.

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