Councillors urged to meet foster carers

The Fostering Network is urging all councillors in England to get in touch with their foster carers as part of the Local Government Association (LGA)’s Corporate Parenting Week (25 June - 1 July).

When a child is in care, local councillors become their parents in the eyes of the law, and are known as corporate parents. The role of corporate parents is to seek for their children the outcomes that every parent would want for their own child.

Research from the LGA, published this week, shows that more needs to be done to improve councillors’ awareness of fostering and notes the benefits of the council and its foster carers working together.

The Fostering Network supports the recommendation that all councillors should be aware of their council’s responsibility as corporate parents and welcomes the collection of materials for local councillors available on the LGA’s website, including good practice guides and case studies.

Vicki Swain, campaigns manager at the Fostering Network, said: “Councillors are essential in ensuring that looked-after children receive a level of support from their local authority that will enable them to live happy and fulfilling lives, so this information from the LGA really is welcome.

“The Fostering Network has long campaigned on the issue of corporate parenting, so it is fantastic to see the LGA getting involved as well.

“All too often local councillors are unaware of their responsibilities to children in care and the vital role they can play in supporting them. Our “Do you know who your children are?” campaign encourages local councillors to meet with foster care associations so that they can get an understanding of exactly what the needs of the children and young people are, as well as what it’s like to be a foster carer in their neighbourhood.

“Corporate Parenting Week can only add to this work, and we hope this is the first of many successful weeks in the years to come.”

For media enquiries contact media@fostering.net or 020 7620 6425. For more details of our campaigns work and to request campaign materials contact robert.cann@fostering.net.

Tweet