Call for more foster carers as campaign launches

Fostering across the UK is under increasing pressure due to the unprecedented rise in numbers of children needing foster care and the ongoing shortage of foster carers, the Fostering Network is warning today with the launch of Foster Care Fortnight.

The campaign, which runs from 17 to 30 May, highlights the shortage of 10,000 foster families across the UK. Under the strapline Do you have the skills to foster? it aims to encourage people with the right skills and qualities to consider a career in fostering. People are particularly needed to offer homes to teenagers, children under four and sibling groups, as well as to provide long-term homes for children of all ages.

The leading charity carried out market research with fostering services and foster carers, which found that more children are continuing to seek foster homes, and that local authorities are finding it increasingly difficult to meet this need. This growing pressure means children are living with foster carers a long way from their home. They are also being placed with foster carers already looking after several unrelated children or who may not have the skills and qualities to best meet the children’s needs.

Robert Tapsfield, chief executive of the Fostering Network, said: “Fostering services had been making progress in recruiting more foster carers and finding children the right foster family, but this has clearly been pushed back by the unprecedented rise in children coming into foster care. Fostering services are working really hard to find the right foster family for every child, but with such a shortage of foster carers they are faced with a huge challenge.

“In some areas there are simply no spare beds. Children are being sent further away from their schools and friends, and sometimes to foster carers who don’t have the skills and experience to deal with the child’s specific needs. Some local authorities are saying that it is the worst it has ever been.

“Fostering services urgently need more people with the right skills and qualities to come forward to foster, and they need them now, so children don’t lose out.”

To find out more about fostering visit www.couldyoufoster.org.uk Journalists can download a campaign press pack or read the news story in detail.