Does the public perception of fostering hinder fostering services' efforts to recruit and retain foster carers? With a national shortage of 10,000 foster carers, this is the question leading foster care figures from across the UK are gathering in London on 1 March to answer.
Research commissioned by leading charity the Fostering Network reveals that the expectations of fostering services and prospective foster carers are not matching up, leading to thousands of disgruntled failed applicants and a serious shortage of foster homes for some of society's most vulnerable children.
Robert Tapsfield, chief executive of the Fostering Network, said: "It is right and necessary that foster care evolves to meet the changing demands put upon it by society. Therefore foster care is fast moving from vocation to profession.
"Fostering services are today faced with a difficult balancing act in recruiting and retaining foster carers. If they fall into an inflexible 'tick box' mentality, they risk losing potentially loving homes for the children that need them most. On the other hand the modern foster carer must fulfil a growing list of criteria to offer the level of care expected of them.
"Fostering services need to be honest from the outset about what modern foster care entails, and leave applicants in no doubt as to what will be required of them."
Fostering - do we have an image problem? will examine what needs to change in the image of foster care to get this crucial balance right. Also launched at the conference will be a new DVD - the faces of foster care - a film of inspirational and informative stories from 27 foster carers.
For more information, to attend the conference or to arrange an interview contact the Fostering Network press office on 020 7620 6416/6437 or email media@fostering.net
NOTES TO EDITOR
- The Fostering - do we have an image problem? conference will take place on Thursday 1 March 2007 at the CBI conference centre, London WC1.
- Keynote speakers include Robert Tapsfield, chief executive of the Fostering Network and Jane Haywood, chief executive of the Children's Workforce Development Council.
- The faces of foster care DVD is produced by the Fostering Network and Matinee Sound and Vision. It will be available from Central Books, 99 Wallis Road, London, E9 5LN, telephone 0845 458 9912, or email tfn@centralbooks.com.