CYP Now - Work Wise: Four nations - Black and minority ethnic fostering

A shortage of foster carers from black and minority ethnic backgrounds is making it difficult to place vulnerable children in their communities. Alison Bennett finds out how the four nations are recruiting non-white foster carers.

ENGLAND

The government has introduced special guardianship orders to provide a permanent option for children who cannot return to their birth families but for whom adoption is not suitable.

The government expects children and foster families from black and minority ethnic (BME) communities who have cultural or religious difficulties with adoption will benefit from the legislation.

Local authorities are carrying out their own work on recruiting black and ethnic minority foster carers, with a consortium of 12 councils in the North East supporting the Sahara Adoption and Fostering Project. The project publicises the need for more BME foster carers. SCOTLAND

The Scottish Government has no specific guidance for local authorities on how to recruit foster carers from BME communities, although in its foster care guidance it says authorities should provide support and translation for families where English is not a first language.

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