The Fostering Network and Loughborough University published The Cost of Foster Care in mid-June, which showed that fostering is already a drastically under funded service, and a further £580m is required across the UK to develop a properly resourced fostering service, which meets the needs of children in care.
Following the government's decision to remove ringfences and give local authorities more flexibility on how to make savings, the Fostering Network says any reduction in spending on foster care would make the system unsustainable and jeopardise the improvements made in outcomes for children.
Fostering is under immense pressure due to increases in the number of children coming into care and the chronic shortage of 10,000 foster carers. The Fostering Network is urging the government to ensure additional funds are made available for the increasing number of children needing foster homes when it conducts its Comprehensive Spending Review in the autumn.
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