A delay in new guidance from the Government on how to handle allegations of abuse made against foster carers is causing concern among experts.
The Fostering Network has written to education secretary Ruth Kellycalling for the guidance to be issued urgently. Similar guidelines wererecently issued to schools on dealing with allegations against teachersin England.
"Our concern is that failure to do so will adversely affect recruitmentand reinforce for many foster carers that they are second class membersof the childcare workforce," said the network's chief executive RobertTapsfield.
A 2004 report for the Department for Education and Skills revealed manyfoster carers faced "appalling" delays in investigations of allegationsagainst them.
As Children Now went to press, the Department for Education and Skillshad yet to respond to the letter.
