Foster carers will be sharing their views on the state of fostering in England with MPs on the select committee on looked-after children next week (Thursday 10 July).
The select committee, chaired by Barry Sheerman MP, asked leading charity the Fostering Network to bring foster carers from across the country to the meeting. The committee wants to hear their views on a number of issues, including the support foster carers receive; relationships between foster carers and social workers; skills and training for foster carers; and what they think about the transition of foster care from a voluntary and unskilled service to a professional one.
Joanna Adande, who has been fostering for 15 years and will be speaking at the event, said: "I have had a wonderful experience of fostering and worked with some fantastic young people. But there have been times when I have felt unsupported and that my views were not listened to. Proper support for foster carers ultimately means that young people will get a better deal and have more chance of doing well.
"This opportunity to talk about our experiences and to make our views known to people who can influence change is very important. Fostering is changing fast and it is essential that the Government takes this on board."
Robert Tapsfield, chief executive of the Fostering Network, who gave evidence to the select committee in April, said: "We are pleased that the select committee will be listening to foster carers about the need for change. When foster care works it works very well, but there are still many improvements to be made.
"Foster carers do an incredibly demanding job, to which they are now expected to have a professional approach, but all too often their views are ignored by the other professionals they work with. I look forward to seeing the select committee’s report at the end of this investigation, and the Government’s response to it."