West Midlands taskforce aims to find foster families for children in residential care

The partnership, called the Big Fostering Partnership, has been launched as a pilot in the West Midlands. Talks are taking place with other councils to join the partnership, which plans to form further regional taskforces across the UK.

The taskforce identifies looked-after children in children's homes who could benefit from moving to foster care.

It then ensures foster carers are recruited and have the right training and experience in place to support children, who may have experienced trauma and struggle to form relationships.

Involved in the partnership are Staffordshire and Dudley councils and independent foster agency National Fostering Group.

Funding for the scheme has been granted through the Department of Culture, Media and Sport’s Life Chances Fund, and through social investor Big Issue Invest.

In the West Midlands the number of looked-after children has risen from 10,060 in 2018 to 10,700 in 2020. Over the same period the number of children in residential care has increased from 1,230 to 1,450.

Staffordshire County Council is the lead council for the partnership. Its deputy chief executive and director of families and communities Helen Riley said the “need for more specialist foster families who can support those children with additional needs through the most challenging periods of their lives” had driven the taskforce’s launch.

She said: “This partnership provides another option to help us meet the needs of the children in our care. Research shows that the stability of a family environment can help children to reach their full potential in later life.

“And, whilst residential care is absolutely the right place for some children, we also know that for others a foster family will better meet their needs now and into the future. 

“Working with our partners allows us to share our strengths and experiences to help get these children into the right family as quickly as possible. 

“Having access to a larger pool of foster carers means we can often match a young person with a family, where we have previously been unable to in the past.”

National Fostering Group director of strategy Richard Woodward said the taskforce has already begun finding homes for young people.

One young person involved said: “It’s really good. More relaxed than where I was before and I have more freedom. Our relationship is like a mother and son – I feel at home.”