The National Fostering Stocktake February 2018
BACKGROUND The Fostering Stocktake is an independent review. We appointed Sir Martin Narey to lead the review, supported by Mark Owers. Why? • Piecemeal reforms to fostering over the last few years but no systemic look at fostering. • Government announced in Putting Children First that we would conduct a ‘Fostering Stocktake’ – a review of the current fostering system • The report was submitted to ministers before Christmas • The review will inform our future work programme for the next 4 – 5 years.
PROCESS March/April 2017: Appointed Reviewers Launched public call for evidence OCC children’s survey Over 40 stakeholder meetings and roundtables December: Report and recommendations to Minister Report published Internal data analysis and modelling Commissioned evidence review (published July) Informal consultation and stakeholder engagement Education Select Committee: Published December 2017 Spring 2018: Government Response
FINDINGS Fostering is working: fostering is a great thing that can, and is, providing stability, support and a substitute family for children. 83% of looked after children think that being in care has improved their lives (Bright Spots Survey). “I have a great social worker and a great foster carer and it makes a massive difference – not everyone gets that but all children in care should". -YP “Social services has the impression that young children do not understand what is happening around them and it would cause too much disruption if told. I disagree. Even though we are young, we have been through more than you can imagine - the last thing we need is more dishonesty and lack of information” –YP “fostering should never be promoted for the financial aspects of the role. Vulnerable children are not commodities. ” -YP “We have huge concern at the practice of ‘in-house first’, where local authorities place with their own foster carers regardless of potentially better matches in the independent sector. This undermines the principle of needsbased foster care. ” - IFA "foster carers generally feel helpless and, at times, hopeless, when other 'professionals' are making decisions about their child". -FC “Young people in care surrounded by numerous agencies, all offering support, but it is essential that all those parties talk to one another and that there is a consensus about what is in the best interests of the child. ” -FC “The current fostering system is fractured with too many providers competing to recruit foster carers. Unfortunately the reality is that children are being placed with available foster carers rather than being properly matched with foster carers who can meet their needs. ” LA
THE REPORT Foster Care in England: A Review for the Department for Education by Sir Martin Narey and Mark Owers A DATA SUMMARY RECRUITMENT HELPING CARERS TO MAKE FOSTERING MORE EFFECTIVE COMMISSIONING CONTACT AND SIBLINGS THE FINANCIAL COMPENSATION AND REWARD OF FOSTER CARERS MATCHING A FINAL WORD ON PERMANENCE
EDUCATION SELECT COMMITTEE An invaluable part of the care system providing thousands of children with safe, loving, stable homes Valuing young people for too many their experience of care is something that is done to them, not with them Valuing Foster Carers who do not always get the respect and recognition they deserve Valuing care more needs to be done to support foster care
PERMANENCE It’s standing still. In our lives, we're constantly moving things change all the time. Permanence is the time when the world just stands still Foster placements work best when the placement can grow with us What does permanence mean to you and the young people you look after?
RECOMMENDATIONS SUPPORT AND TRAINING A NATIONAL RECRUITMENT AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGN A NATIONAL REGISTER FOSTER CARERS What do you want to see change? What would you do and why?
THE NATIONAL FOSTERING STOCKTAKE Questions?
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