Despite ongoing efforts to recruit more foster carers, at least 8,600 are still needed to meet demand across the UK, according to the Fostering Network, organisers of Foster Care Fortnight, which kicked off on 12 May.
To tackle this shortfall, three projects in England based in West Yorkshire, the North West and Oxfordshire working with the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, are trialling new ways to improve recruitment and retention of carers.
Made up of council and voluntary sector agencies, consortia in each area have been given between £125,000 to £175,000 to spend in the two years up to March 2015. These groups are exploring a range of ideas including new marketing techniques, ways to broaden the pool of carers, and improvements to the initial enquiry process, payments, support and training.
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