2024 Independent Foster Carers Survey Report

Independent Foster Carers Survey Report 2024

Foreword

Our 2024 Independent Foster Carer's Survey represents a ground-breaking milestone in the field of fostering. This survey, with its unprecedented insights from the frontline, stands as a beacon of independence, free from government or corporate influence.

The response speaks volumes, with nearly 2,500 respondents and over 14,500 written comments, making it the sector's largest independent foster carers survey.

A recurring theme throughout was a desperate cry for help from the frontline, not only for the foster carers themselves but for the children they care for, underscoring the remarkable resilience of foster carers in the face of immense adverse challenges.

While I wish there was more to celebrate, it is crucial we confront the harsh realities impacting foster care. Without addressing these issues, the decline in foster carers will persist, and the negative outcomes for foster children will continue.

When we surveyed the significant number of foster carers considering resignation, the results were striking. The majority cited feeling unvalued, experiencing burnout and exhaustion, and facing mental health challenges.

They also reported a lack of breaks, insufficient support, especially during weekends and holidays, and inadequate financial compensation. Additional concerns included the impact on their own families, fear of allegations, bullying, and the grief and loss when a child moves on.

A substantial 78% of carers reported that their mental health had been impacted negatively due to their fostering role, with many suffering in silence for fear of repercussions. Most written comments highlighted systemic issues rather than problems with the children themselves.

The fear of allegations significantly impacts foster carers' mental health and their ability to perform their duties. Over 80% of carers indicated that this fear affects their role, and an alarming 85% believe allegations are not handled fairly, justly, or in a balanced way.

Despite long-standing concerns raised by many, these issues have often been dismissed due to a lack of 'evidence,' with the severity of allegations remaining hidden.

Additionally, many fostering services do not consistently comply with statutory regulations or standards and the majority of foster carers feel that their frontline experiences do not match their provider's Ofsted or Care Inspectorate ratings, yet their voices remain unheard. How can foster carers work effectively for their children in such a culture?

For the children and young people in their care, the situation is dire. Many are not prioritised during transitions between fostering families or onto adoption, losing contact with those they consider family and often never have the chance to reconnect.

Comments from carers revealed heart breaking daily realities: most children's mental health needs are unaddressed, nearly three-quarters have had more than one social worker in the past year, and experience gaps. Their care plans are frequently outdated, not followed, or ineffective, and many carers lack strong working relationships with the children's social workers.

For many years, the lack of meaningful education and qualifications for foster carers has been highlighted but remains unaddressed. Evidence shows that over half of the carers find their training inadequate for their role, and more than 80% feel unprepared by the pre-approval education. This inadequacy contributes to the high turnover of carers and the frequent breakdown of placements, causing yet more instability for children.

Finally, we asked, "Would you recommend fostering to a friend, family member, or colleague?" Typically, foster carers are the most effective recruiters of new foster carers. Unfortunately, over 75% responded that they would not recommend it. Given the contents of the full report, this outcome is unsurprising. However, there are some positives: over one-third of these respondents indicated they would consider recommending fostering if their fostering services committed to the necessary workforce changes.

We now have empirical evidence supporting our long-standing concerns, which have often been dismissed as complaints from a few unhappy carers. The same handpicked foster carers are repeatedly presented to the government, perpetuating a misleadingly positive narrative.

The big question is: how long will this be allowed to continue? I am deeply passionate about fostering, the children, and their families, as are my fostering colleagues. It is evident that ignoring these issues for so long necessitates an honest assessment and a commitment to reform, by embracing the frontline experiences and truths, we can pave the way for a better future for our children. They surely deserve nothing less.

I urge all industry stakeholders to join us in collective reform, but above all I call for a commitment to truly put our children first, beyond mere rhetoric. Let us set aside agendas, profits, and politics and place the children back at the heart of the system.
Sarah Anderson, Founder FosterWiki

Executive Summary

The care system in the UK serves as a critical safety net for children facing diverse challenges, including family upheaval due to illness, bereavement, abuse, neglect, seeking asylum, or complex health and care needs.

Among the approximately 97,000 children receiving care away from their homes and families, foster families play an indispensable role, constituting about three-quarters of these placements.

Foster care not only offers children the opportunity to thrive within a familial setting but also provides them with a nurturing and consistent environment that often shapes their adulthood.

Consequently, initiatives aimed at improving outcomes for children in care necessitate a concentrated effort to enhance the quality of foster care provisions.

The overwhelming response to our survey underscores its significance, with participation spanning across regions, including England (81.46%), Wales (8.29%), Scotland (8.45%), and Northern Ireland (1.8%).

With 2449 completed responses and an unprecedented 14,550 individual written comments, our survey provided a comprehensive understanding of the challenges currently faced by foster carers.

Foster care, characterised by its diversity, aims to provide children with a nurturing, skilled family environment conducive to stability and positive outcomes. Our survey approached this narrative from an independent perspective, acknowledging the multifaceted nature of foster care experiences.

Unlike traditional surveys driven by organisational agendas, our survey delved into neglected aspects of foster care, including foster carers’ mental health, workplace dynamics, and the impact on their families.

Foster carers, often excluded from discussions on practice improvements were given a platform to voice concerns regarding team dynamics, inspection ratings, complaint procedures, and mental health support.

By shedding light on these overlooked dimensions, our survey aimed to evidence the underlying issues contributing to the current retention and recruitment crisis within the fostering sector.

The Independent Foster Carer’s Survey stands as a pivotal contribution to fostering research and practice, offering unparalleled insights into the realities faced by foster carers. With a wealth of frontline perspectives, our survey seeks to shape a future where every child in care thrives within a supportive, skilled and nurturing environment.

Survey Results

Q1. Please select the country you foster in.

Q2. Do you foster for an Independent Fostering Agency (IFA) or Local Authority (LA)?

Q3. From your evidence of front-line practice does your fostering service or agency comply with National Minimum Standards and fostering regulations.

To obtain a complete list of 376 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“Never had copy of my fostering supervision in 10 years.”

“Paper work is always late following children's reviews. To few professionals take ownership or follow things through.”

“The service is inconsistent across the board.”

“They follow none and do what they want. Overcrowded homes. No information and they lie about what children are really like. They down play the behaviour and trauma.”

“I was not told I was entitled to Independent advice and was actually told to source it my self”

“NI doesn’t have minimum standards. If we did they’d all be a long way short of them.”

“No SSW for 6 months, No Supervision for 4 months, and No support for young people”

“They seem to focus on certain people. Often intimidating carers”

“Individual supervising social workers do not complete all checks consistently or thoroughly. After their omissions they then put pressure on for “evidence” of our compliance. I would question that the three latest SW I have worked with are fully aware of the standards.”

"The agency has there own standards and are only aligned with NMS when it suits"

Q4. As a foster carer do you think that your fostering service’s Ofsted/Care Inspectorate rating reflects your experiences on the front line?

To obtain a complete list of 387 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“They have recently had an inspection and have dropped to needs improvement. From my experience the service needs major improvements.”

“SWs will rush to get things completed ( outdated, late paperwork) when they know Ofsted is visiting”

“No, not. They are outstanding, they are actually awful only care about money not carers or children."

“At my last agency the carers were hand picked to give their opinions to Ofsted."

“Any agency can get outstanding by just doing tick box exercises. Ofsted don’t know the real picture as carers that have issues are hidden away. Seen it happen many times then watch agency crow about their rating while carers remain disillusioned."

“I believe that carers are selected by fostering and not by Ofsted hence sometimes getting the answers the LA want them to have"

“Our local authority has Recently been Ofsted rating and needs improvements . I totally agree with the rating as a foster carer don't feel supported and feel it's failing the children we look after"

“Ofsted is a meaningless tick box exercise. I have no respect for the process. The agency got good because they don't have the imagination to spot truly outstanding work."

“They prevented some Foster Carers meeting with Ofsted by lying & saying they were on holiday"

“They are poor and select carers carefully to speak to Ofsted . It makes a mockery of the grading"

Q5. In the past year have you raised a concern or complaint about any behaviour, decisions or written material produced by a social worker or other professional working with you in your fostering role?

To obtain a complete list of 596 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“Yes complaint about FSW and their manager and also data breaches.”

“SSW totally incompetent and missing”

“About being lied to by SSW during placement end. Nothing done obviously as that SSW is now manager (and part owner) of the agency!"

“We did at our last agency. Important information wasn’t disclosed by the social worker."

“I tried but soon told to pipe down"

“I worry about the backlash if I raise issues."

“They ignore it if it's about them. Then accuse you of bad practices."

“Lack of support gaslighting by higher management"

“Regular carelessness over carers personal data. Home addresses are shared in documents going to birth family."

“I live in fear wouldn't dare! this is the most stressful job in the world."

Q6. In the past year have you wanted to raise a concern but felt unable to do so?

To obtain a complete list of 407 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“For fear of kick back and blame.”

“I feel my SSW doesn’t advocate for me.”

“It goes no further despite adding superiors to the email, they just pass it back down the chain.”

“At first I did as I had a complaint against a SW who blatantly lied , I felt like I had been ostracized because of this but I knew I couldn't stay quiet so that's when I made another complaint about a different scenario."

“When we've raised concerns previously we've been hit with made up concerns about us."

“Yes fear of upsetting social workers because they will remove the children."

“Too dangerous to raise concerns if you want to remain a carer"

“I could raise several complaints and have spoken to the department about it, however I have been warned by other carers who have been blackmailed that it wouldn't be worth it. I have felt immensely intimidated, abandoned and my online family have been under threat. Its not worth putting a target on my back bigger than the one I have."

“My agency fully supported."

“I was told by a SW that complaints don’t get listened to it’s only when you put your 28 day notice in that they will actually pay attention."

Q7. In the past year have you been overlooked or deliberately excluded from inputting your knowledge of your foster child’s needs into any planning or review meeting held by other members of the team around the child?

To obtain a complete list of 482 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“Review meetings usually have a pre-determined outcome so FC input would be irrelevant.”

“Most definitely! Try to be the voice of our child neither us nor him are listened too. We feel like a box ticking exercise.”

“Excluded from stability meeting."

“We are not team around the child we are the babysitter."

“My knowledge of my YP when moving on was not taken into consideration by LA when assessing his 18+ needs."

“There was a recent meeting to discuss what additional supports we’d need for a very difficult child. We weren’t invited. How would they know what we needed if we weren’t asked."

“Absolutely. On numerous occasions. I once expressed concerns about an adoption and was told 'well your just the foster carer and they'll be their parents'. The adoption broke down within months and the child is now in residential care."

“Constantly. Our Agency have listened but the LA teams haven't and have been openly hostile."

“Always given plenty of chance to speak up for him."

“Even with all the extra training I have completed and I know the child the most, and I have a psychology degree, my knowledge and logs and suggestions are never listened to, its one of the worst parts of the job."

Q8. As a foster carer do you feel confident to advocate and speak on behalf of your children effectively?

To obtain a complete list of 466 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“That though is down to experience of 15 years when we started out we felt our opinions were ignored to a large extent and overlooked.”

“I regularly have to advocate on behalf of my carer leaver who is still involved with the local authority. But have not had any issues with FCA”

“Told we don’t know what is best for our foster child despite being a parent to our own daughter who is severely disabled.”

“I have generally been quite confident in advocating all 3 children. However, this took time to get to this point. Having been through an allegation now, my confidence has been knocked massively.”

“Often told this is an expectation, i.e. tick box , even when the FC doesn't want what they are proposing .”

“No really I don't feel safe to speak out at all.”

“But there will be problems if I complain about CSW not doing their job. I get bullied.”

“If I didn't speak up for this child and bring on an advocate then the child could have been taken. The child has regular contact with her abusers. Genuine abusers who have made CSWs in attendance of contact sessions cry upon leaving. The more other agencies say we should be included like professionals, the more they find ways of excluding us with new micro-policies.”

"This has victimised me in doing so as it is not believed."

"Confident but they don't listen gets swept under the table."

"There’s always a fear that you will be bullied if you speak out to much. Or treated with contempt and spoken to in patronising manners and the so called professionals can be passive aggressive towards you."

Q9. Are you given all available information about your child at the start of the placement?

To obtain a complete list of 580 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“We are given reports to read- they can often say more about parent than child. Our SSW tries hard to get more info from child’s sw.”

“Often duty has no clue who they have in their car”

“Very poor information sharing always quoting data protection they use it as cop out”

“I've fostered for 21 years so have had many children with hardly any info”

“We haven’t had a placement with our current agency yet but twice as the last agency vital information was withheld.”

“Just enough to take the child.”

“Lied to.”

“It's been my experience , in the past, information wasn't forthcoming and safer carer documents weren't up to date.”

“What a joke. Referral is about limiting information to ensure carers say yes. A real nightmare and leads to carers giving up.”

“I’ve had one of my fc for almost a year and never received any paperwork about background nor panel papers. I have complained continuously but to no avail.”

Q10. In the past year have your children had more than one social worker or a period without any social worker allocated?

To obtain a complete list of 437 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“Four SWs in a year as well as a month without a social worker during this period.”

“Went through a 18 month period with 6 agency social workers.”

“We are on social worker number 7 since we have had then.”

“Thankfully our children have a good social worker that's been with them for a few years.”

“Child was in care for over 2 years. Had 6 social workers and 2 months without a social worker.”

“Had a little boy 20months he had 11 social workers.”

“We had 5 CSW for our first little one currently have twins and they have had 2 and only been with us 8 weeks.”

“Does happen sometimes quite a lot, but not this year.”

“Unfortunately yes, this is very upsetting as new relationships have to be re-built.”

“I have a 14 year old boy who has been with us nearly 5 years who is on his 23rd social worker through his life. Since with us he is on his 3rd IRO and second virtual school.”

Q11. Do your foster children need mental health services which you/they have been told are not available (counselling, psychologist, psychiatrist, family therapist) – answer yes if they are on a waiting list or they have had some provision but it ended too soon or was inadequate.

To obtain a complete list of 466 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“Been on path way over 2 year.”

“Waited over 3.6 years for CAMHS. Told therapy wouldn’t work.”

“Told that because our foster son is function at years younger than what is chronologically is, therapy and interventions wouldn't work as well as they could.”

“Two of ours need help. One on waiting lists. The other seems to have run out of time on the list. As when they finally got to see them the time frame is to short to help as they turn 18 and it needs to start again with adult mental health.”

“2 children, one diagnosed by CAHMS, the other by a private provider. CAHMS will not recognise the private diagnosis of ADHD. Now cannot get any doctor to review to see if medication could help her.”

“On a waiting for CAMHS due to self harming. No idea when she might get seen.”

“Not so much unavailable as slow to respond, not based locally and not at level required. I think it would be helpful if LA could support in house therapy provision for both children in care and their foster carers. Rapid access required with specialist understanding of fostering dynamics.”

“Told they cannot have the above until they have permanent placement.”

“Have advocated for trauma counselling owing to evidence of multiple ACES and exhibited behaviours. Almost all professionals agreed to our faces but no provision was made.”

“School in the end organised counselling which has been so beneficial to child … LA did nothing , lots of talk no action..”

Q12. Have you ever been expected to put the needs of a foster child above/before the needs of a birth child?

To obtain a complete list of 540 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“My children are not important at all and must be secondary to foster children.”

“Not birth children, but grandchildren.”

“Always, our children are never thought about or cared about.”

“I don't have birth children, but I've been told to prioritise my foster child over my marriage.”

“There is only foster children none other children count.”

“Expected to put two younger kids in the car when it would be their bedtime to go pick up from contact with birth family - and she comes out dysregulated and angry every time which takes all of my focus off the younger ones.”

“I my experience I have seen this practice where social workers make you feel guilty."

“Daily! No support for birth children experiencing second hand trauma."

“Especially during adoption - have bought this up before and was ignored and told to get on with it and “never a good time to do an adoption."

“Needs of foster child's birth parents ahead of needs of foster child and my birth children. Contact was at a time that suited Dad but was over tea time and required a long journey to pick up so I didn't see my birth children some nights."

Q13. Do you have an effective working relationship with your children/s social worker?

To obtain a complete list of 550 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“Never contactable never attends meetings.”

“She’s young and hardworking.”

“Current one is very good .”

“This one is new and seems way more productive and easier to communicate with than the previous one.”

“We have been lucky and have had good social workers how are generally in our corner when we have a problem. The children's social workers some times seem to have no idea, but again their case loads are sometimes horrendous.”

“One thing said to my face then another behind my back. The most unprofessional profession I’ve ever worked with.”

“I have worked with very good children's social workers but they are rare the two I am working with currently are below standard and think very little of foster carers.”

“I have 2 children 1 social worker is fine the other never asks about the child and hardly ever sees them.”

“Previously had a very different and difficult experience with LA social worker.”

“Although they keep changing. One of my children have a very newly qualified SW who will never respond to email or phone messages. She has a list of referrals to complete which have not been done. She doesn’t always turn up to more arranged meetings. She has no relationship with the child or us.”

Q14. Are the children’s care plans sufficiently up-to-date, followed and effective?

To obtain a complete list of 274 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“Still not permanent after having nearly 8 years.”

“Never seen one.”

“Up to date yes, effective no.”

“Not really used unless there is a complaint. SW tend to just change things as they want.”

“The care plans are not efficiently and effectively followed. If it suits the IRO to disregard any aspect of the care plan, it will be ignored, or lies will be told to fit the narrative of children’s services wishes.”

Q15. Are you respected and treated as a professional in the team around the child?

To obtain a complete list of 501 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“Respect isn't apart of our working relationship. We are belittled in meetings, spoken to like children and disrespected constantly.”

“No I’m the child baby sister who has no say.”

“Certain individuals yes but the majority of the time no.”

“Not even slightly. Despite being the only consistent and thorough person around the child.”

“I was once told by an IOR I was not a professional so me talking directly to someone didn’t matter (softer approach) I quote “you are not a professional anyway so that won’t matter when you talk to them.”

Q16. Is the training available to you from your fostering service/agency high enough quality and relevant to make you more effective in your role as a foster carer?

To obtain a complete list of 468 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“Training is usually a tick box exercise that they can use against you. I once travelled 250 miles to attend a Dan Hughes conference at my expense and then got in trouble for using PACE.."

“It is basic. You think it's ok until things aren't going well. The service respond by saying training is general. Then when there are issues we are guided or given more thorough training. Unacceptable.”

“They hardly bother anymore I wanted trauma training but told I cant.”

“Iv not been given any training even thou I'm suppose to have done many training sessions etc over the last 3.5 years.”

“More a case of box ticking if you challenge the quality or content you are told that the training reflects how it should be not how it is.”

“I had completed masters level training in SEN prior to becoming a foster Carer so although training has been a good refresher, often it is not new content. I have recently found some training that seems to be a good fit and our social worker has had the funding for it agreed.”

“Never delivered by anytime with first hand experience of fostering. I could write most of them from googling or using chat gyp. Time is always poorly managed so the most useful stuff is done in the last hour in rush.”

“As a foster carer of 19yrs, the training is repetitive as I don’t feel I’m leaning anything new. There’s only so much of the same training you can do year in year out. I have fed this back to management but seem to fall on death ears.”

“The training I received in education was far more in-depth and superior in quality and quantity to that given in fostering - it appears to be 'dumbed down' and very surface level.”

“Training is poor and we are not allowed to access funding for outside training to support our role.”

Q17. How well did the training and access to information you were given before you were approved prepare you for the fostering role?

To obtain a complete list of 404 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“Had previously done adoption training which was much better than skills to foster as they were almost trying to put you off adopting rather than the take anyone for fostering approach.”

“No one told us they would abuse us treat us badly, under value and we would have no human rights in our own home and as long as we wanted to keep the children we would have to put up with it.”

“It's not honest enough. I get they don't want to scare people off. But we need to know.”

“They sell you rainbows and unicorns and in reality we all know the unicorns have left the building.”

“Not even close to what I should of known.”

“We have had to research and find out ourselves. Other foster carers have been a major source of information.”

“I feel they need to be more honest… not saying anyone can do it in their adverts!.”

“This still would need improvements. The skills to foster is still basic cover to gain insight to fostering.”

“There should be mandatory and honest training on allegations.”

“It's more than having a spare room and room in your heart!!”

Q18. Have you had more than one supervising social worker in the last 2 years, or have any gaps?

To obtain a complete list of 494 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“I’m the XXX we had a social worker constantly sick. Cover for her was sporadic and poor.”

“Constant change had 5 in last year.”

“We just moved on to number 5 in 3 years.”

“Yes, I changed agencies as last agency I didn't have a SSW for over 6 months. New agency, after 6 months SSW went on sick, had a gap of around 3 months till new one hired.”

“Had the same supervising social worker for 6 years.”

Q19. Do you receive 6 weekly supervision sessions as per the fostering regulations?

To obtain a complete list of 315 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“8 out of 10 cancelled.”

“Cancelled 8 times out of 10 supervisions, not bothered I know who to email if I need anything.”

“Do with the IFA, didn't with the LA previously.”

“Didn’t get any for 7 year.”

“More often, every 4 weeks.”

Q20. Do you receive a copy of your supervision notes to sign off and retain a copy before your next supervision session, paper or online?

To obtain a complete list of 327 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“Never in 11 years.”

“Most of the time.”

“Do now but previous SSW did not give reports.”

“We use charms for supervision notes.”

“Fostered for 26 years and never got a copy.”

Q21. On a scale of 1 to 10 where 1 is not at all easy, it does not feel safe and 10 is very easy and comfortable, how easy is it for you to openly discuss your experiences and your feelings about the challenges of the fostering role in your supervision discussions.

To obtain a complete list of 451 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“Have to be careful about what you say as her confidentiality is not good.”

“There is plenty of time and SSW would listen but I have to be very careful what I say and double guess how things can be interpreted behind the scenes in meetings I'm not part of..”

“Always the case that you feel if you open up too much, then the LA will remove the children..”

“We are honest but find this has repercussions.”

“Can never completely trust SSW as it’s always according to their agenda.”

Q22. Do you have paid respite/breaks as part of your fostering agreement with your provider?

To obtain a complete list of 665 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“We have two weeks respite which we get paid for! But if we have weekends a few times it comes out our allowance.”

“First holiday since 2017 and used my back up carer.”

“First holiday taken with back up carer not respite carer since 2018 this year.”

“21 nights paid respite of the money in leu.”

“2 weeks per year.”

“When it suits them.”

Q23. Are you able to ask for a break from your fostering role when you need it whether you have children placed with you or not?

To obtain a complete list of 536 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“We are able to ask, it has not been granted. Advised during a TATC meeting to hand our 28 day notice. We are now almost 10 months over that notice period! Form dates given for respite - still not organised.”

“I asked for respite in a stability meeting where we were told we had carers fatigue to be told no, it wouldn't be fair on the child.”

“We have children who have illnesses which are complex so it’s not easy to get cover at all, my daughter will give us a break but if she’s not available to can’t have it.”

“You can ask but not necessarily get it as there is a shortage of respite carers.”

“I have a good respite in place.”

Q24. Have you ever been refused a break?

To obtain a complete list of 514 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“Just not arranged “no appropriate carers” Found one respite carer, but CSW withheld information about YP and they then backed out.”

“Though I do have to pretty much arrange it all myself including the transport logistics of x4 children to x4 different foster homes which sometimes makes the effort for the sake of 2 nights not really worth it with all the travelling (x4 hours to and x4 hours back)!”

“Never refused just told from the beginning not to ask!!”

“I was told I was not allowed a break as it would be traumatic for the child. The child was in care for over 2 years. I was also told that if placed with a baby, breaks were absolutely not allowed due to bonding.”

“But we have to find/organise the respite carer.”

“Due to no where that could accommodate my Child who has complex needs.”

“But made to feel guilty.”

“Child’s plan was delayed and we were asked to cancel holiday. We did for the child’s sake.”

“I have, in effect, been refused a break. There have always been reasons and excuses given as to why it was impossible. But the answer to your question is, yes. I have been refused a break on more than one occasion..”

Q25. Has your mental health suffered because of your fostering?

To obtain a complete list of 567 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“I went through a very long complaint about social worker not complying with policy and their treatment of children and the child’s family.”

“Not been to GP because I’m scared of poor mental health being on my records and then being flagged in Medicals.”

“Yes whole family have been seriously affected on several occasions. I have sat in front of a doctor and cried my eyes out.”

“In the past most definitely!!! Through our agency lying and changed our paperwork on us to make us look terrible we took them to the complaints three levels.”

“Secondary trauma is underestimated.”

“Significantly. Also my birth child's and my close family.”

“The constant pressure of looking after the children, with their constant challenging behaviour does affect my MH.”

“Not with children they are a pleasure.”

“Just stressful sometimes as we have kids 24/7.”

“A false allegation against a member of the wider family tore us apart. My mums health deteriorated rapidly under the stress.”

Q26. Have you ever chosen not to seek support for your mental health challenges because of fear it could damage your role as a foster carer?

To obtain a complete list of 275 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“And once we were finally offered counselling only for the initial phone call with the councillor to start with him complaining to us that he'd come out of retirement to do this so we didn't bother!.”

“Absolutely, we have no privacy as a foster carer and I do believe we would be judged if we confessed to having any sort of mental health condition.”

“It was mentioned numerous times that I was peri menopause. Mentioned in my yearly review.”

“If the LA know you are suffering they may take the children as a knee jerk reaction.”

“There has been times I have worried about physical health and not accessed medical care due to the worry around my role.”

“Would be seen as a failure.”

“I knew I had to get help, but I was scared it would affect my ability to foster.”

“ABSOLUTELY. I haven’t sought any help for fear of damage to my role. I am crying and shaking now just writing this feeling trapped.”

“We fear showing what could be seen as a weakness. My wife collapsed at a family centre when we dropped two children off for family time. She was taken to hospital in an ambulance and diagnose with labyrinitis. It was a full nine months before we were offered another placement as we were 'unable to cope' That is why foster carers do not ask for help.”

Q27. Have transitions been planned and enacted in a way that puts the specific needs of that child first (not following a one-size-fits-all) and with consideration for the whole fostering household?

To obtain a complete list of 427 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“Awful! There is no planning despite over 10 professionals being involved. YP now turning 18 and still no idea where they are moving to (only two provisions identified who then say they can’t meet their needs).”

“The CSW made an unrealistic and unreasonable assessment to the court to obtain a full care order. The plan moving forward is generally considered un achievable.”

“Transitions have been really good, and everyone within our household have been considered.”

“Transition went really well. There was the initial visit then dinner dates at each other house. Sleep over. Days out with the child..”

“Utterly appalling and the main cause of my birth child's trauma.”

Q28. When a child or young person has been moved on have you been discouraged or prevented from maintaining a relationship with them by someone other than the child?

To obtain a complete list of 529 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“They moved 2 children out of county with no regard for them or us.”

“Feels like it is actively discouraged but then you find other carers do stay in touch. It destroyed us when a 22 month old left for adoption with zero contact afterwards..”

“Been lucky to keep most of our children in our lives, one is our god son.”

“Been told I have to ignore their texts and messages.”

“Unable to say goodbye, no indication even possible to stay in touch even though would have been helpful for child.”

Q29. Which of the following statements are true for you, tick all that apply

To obtain a complete list of 329 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“I found out about the union through a Facebook foster carers forum.”

“Had to fight really hard and do my own research during my 8 month nightmare allegation.”

“I’ve never known any agencies publicise a union or give any information about it which is appalling.”

“I have asked my service to inform all carers about the union. They have refused. I asked my service to share this survey with all carers. They refused.”

“I was told by other foster carers and buddy system.”

“My new agency is great. The previous agency never mentioned a union or support services. I didn't know there was a union until I read it on Fosterwiki.”

“They have XXXXXX XXXX who are paid for by them and are on there side not mine.”

“The Fostering Network have supported us previously and I have been very impressed with them."

“I have been told union is against the fostering network and should choose between them. Also told they do not recognise any union"

Q30. Does the fear of allegations ever affect your fostering role in any way?

To obtain a complete list of 454 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“I would lose my house family and other employment.”

“It used to in the beginning but now I’m not bothered if my experience ended tomorrow.”

“Absolutely. If the possibility was clearer at the start we would never have fostered.”

“I definitely wouldn’t accept a child who’d made allegations. It’s the lack of robust investigations which is worrying.”

“We were higher risk of allegations from day 1. I considered leaving several times. Which is traumatic in itself. We were constantly worried and watching. I'm quite proactive so voiced my concerns. I was ignored. Then had an allegation made. Literally saw it coming and tried everything.”

“Like fostering while walking on egg shells.”

Q31. Do you foster for an Independent Fostering Agency (IFA) or Local Authority (LA)?

To obtain a complete list of 404 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“.”

Q32. Do you feel the out-of-hours support for foster carers is sufficient including over Christmas, festivities, bank holidays and weekends?

To obtain a complete list of 574 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“No the Support is a phone number to leave a message or a person to say they have no help available.”

“Simple answer is not all. You call they note it down then nothing you’re left to it.”

“Phoned out of hours had to call over 8 times to be told will ring you back just having a family meal. We needed support had a child in full meltdown and being disruptive.”

“We can call any time but there is never anything that can be done except a listening ear. We don’t call anymore.”

“I had to have an emergency operation and was told I would have get my Daughter and 88 year old Dad to care for my Child as it was a Friday and there was no provision for a Disabled Child.”

Q33. Do you feel confident allegations are carried out in a fair, just and balanced way?

To obtain a complete list of 404 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“Absolutely not.”

“We were excluded from meetings so in effect could not fairly put our perspective forward.”

“Unsure. However in fostering groups I see time and time again, that previously supporting professionals shut out foster carers and withdraw support and communication. It’s guilty until proven innocent..”

“The allegations process is not fit for purpose and needs addressing! The way foster carers are treated is absolutely disgusting!.”

“They investigate their own allegations it can’t be fair we have no defence no chance to defend our self.”

“One sided, they mark their own home work and decide the questions and decide the answer.”

“Not at all. I've experienced it first hand. Absolutely appalling process, if they even stuck to process. Even worse when they don't.”

“But even when we are cleared it is still on our records.”

“Never who can an investigation be fair when you get no defence at all you don’t usually even know what you are being accused of until they have found out how guilty they want you to be.”

“As I've said, false allegations been made and if we hadn't been as informed as we are then things would have been different and I think we would not be fostering now.”

Q34. Are you satisfied that your fostering service protects your personal information and stores and shares it in compliance with data protection regulations?

To obtain a complete list of 360 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“My medical information including weight was handed out to everyone at panel, children’s services etc.”

“In the past my files have been changed to make us look bad but we had already requested our file. Yes we found what they had lied about and changed but they got away with fraud.”

“My personal information was shared with a foster child's family, the child had to move from me, very upsetting time for all involved.”

“I.e. Medicals , and anyone in the office has access to our files.”

“No. They backtracked some time ago about providing our confidential medical details to our social worker to assess whether we were fit to foster. We refused (despite having no medical issues at all). Our confidential medical details are supposed to be reviewed by a medical professional, not a social worker with no clinical experience, and only if there are concerns this should be raised and discussed.”

“There have been big breaches in the past plus they state that birth family have a right to know our address as they have a right to know where their own birth children are living.”

“In the past I had a serious data breach. My address was sent to a parent in a routine review letter. I was going to leave fostering because of it. I was fearful for my family.”

“We have taken advice from the ICO and are in the process of raising a complaint against our IFA in the way they store and record our personal information.”

“Medical forms still returned to general Social Services mail box.”

“I feel too many people are given access to medical records, and who have no medical background (i.e. panels etc). Meaning, that if they do not have the medical understanding, then why should they be able to review that information as part of the decision making process?”

Q35. When your GP completes a medical report for your fostering role does this go directly to the Medical Advisor only, who completes a short Fit/Unfit to Foster Statement for the Fostering Service and Panel?

To obtain a complete list of 239 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“No All my disabilities are openly discussed in front of numerous unmedicaly trained people. This is disability discrimination only the medical adviser should have this information and make me justify why I can foster (9years) given I have a disability. Than ask my husband why he is overweight and what he is going to do about it I front of a load of strangers when him being overweight and my disability has no bearing on my ability to foster now or in the future. Unless it stops me fostering no need to bring it up.”

“Goes to admin the SW then to the panel.”

“I have no idea. Which is worrying.”

“They don't have a medical advisor so it goes to the office in general, anyone can open it.”

“No sent to main office then local office then medical advisor then a room full of none doctors in panel. None of which need my medical history. Should be is she fit to foster or not. Anything else should be a private matter with medical advisor. All human rights removed so other people can feel important.”

“I have no idea of who gets the report, or of how many people have eyes on it.”

“I raised a complaint about this and reported them to the ICO and I won! But the agency still do it wrong for everyone else but treat me as a special case.”

“My information has been discussed with others. This prevents me seeking medical advice.”

“Not fit for purpose. the only information needed is are you fit or not to foster but disability is used to humiliate and degrade people in a room full of people. Disability discrimination to discuss your disability and make you justify your ability when medical has no reason to believe you unfit.”

Q36. Would you recommend fostering to a friend, family member or colleague?

To obtain a complete list of 457 comments, please contact FosterWiki. Please note that the availability of the list is limited.

“Too dangerous at the moment.”

“Sadly not any more as the system is so broken and it seems to hard to change. After are current children no longer need us I think there is little hope we will carry on. Wish does make us sad as their are to many children that need help.”

“Even if things changed. Due to what we have been through I'm not sure I could recommend it. Children's services tried to remove my child. Handled it appallingly. I couldn't recommend anyone to that risk. I couldn't live with myself if anything happened.”

“Because I believe in what we do, helping young people have a loving home and stable environment.”

“The system appears broken beyond repair. This view has been deduced from my own, direct experience and lending an ear to many others in a supportive role.”

“I have recommended friends and family before. But I won’t do anymore.”

“Never, after this placement ends we will never foster again. Lack of real support and respect.”

“Yes for the sake of the children as it can be extremely rewarding. We have met some brilliant, beautiful young individuals.”

“This is difficult to answer with the three options you’ve allowed. I am deeply aware of the need for more foster carers. I know how many children are in need. As a result I would never try to dissuade anyone from fostering. I would however give them the benefit of my insights and not have them walk blindly into a profession that has so many challenges and pitfalls.”

“Absolutely not. We love what we do but are now without children as we asked for our last young person to move on in a planned way with a view to us resigning. It’s got so much worse in so many ways over the 16 years we’ve been fostering.”

Q37. In the past year have you seriously considered resigning as a foster carer for any of the following reasons, tick all that apply.

Key Findings

Compliance and Quality of Care

Compliance with standards – Nearly half (48%) of respondents reported that their providers do not, or only sometimes, comply with the law and national minimum standards.

This indicates potential lapses in regulatory adherence and raises questions about the quality and consistency of care provided by these providers.

Discrepancies with official ratings – A significant majority (67%) stated that their frontline experience does not always align with the organisation’s (Ofsted, Care Expectorate) ratings.

This suggests discrepancies between official assessments and the day-to-day realities faced by foster carers, potentially indicating shortcomings in the evaluation process or the accuracy of ratings.

Concerns about professionals – Half of respondents (50%) had to report a concern or complaint about professionals within their fostering services in the last year. This highlights issues with professionalism, competence, or conduct within the fostering system, necessitating robust mechanisms for addressing and resolving such concerns.

Lack of information – A substantial majority (80%) indicated that they are not always given available information about their child at the start of the placement. This lack of communication can hinder foster carers’ ability to provide tailored and effective care, potentially impacting the stability of the placement, the well-being and outcomes of foster children.

Inadequate care plans – Over half (54%) of respondents stated that their children’s care plans are not always sufficiently up-to-date, followed, or effective. This raises concerns about the quality and effectiveness of care planning processes, potentially resulting in suboptimal outcomes for foster children and increased challenges for foster carers.

Conclusion The data and feedback here highlighted systemic challenges within the fostering system, including issues related to compliance, communication, and quality of care. Addressing these concerns requires concerted efforts from fostering providers, regulatory bodies, and stakeholders to ensure that foster children receive the highest standard of care and foster carers are supported to effectively deliver that quality provision.

Children's Well-being and Transitions

Social worker turnover – A concerning finding is that 71% of children in foster care had more than one social worker or experienced periods without any social worker allocated in the past year. This turnover can disrupt continuity of care, hinder rapport-building, and undermine the effectiveness of support and interventions provided to foster children.

Inadequate care plans – Over half (54%) of respondents indicated that their children’s care plans are not always sufficiently up-to-date, followed, or effective. This suggests shortcomings in the planning and implementation of care strategies, potentially leading to unmet needs, lack of consistency, and suboptimal outcomes for foster children.

Transitions without consideration – Another notable discovery is that 54% of respondents indicated that children’s transitions were orchestrated without regard for the entirety of the fostering household, often neglecting to prioritise the child’s needs. This deficiency in comprehensive planning has the potential to disrupt familial dynamics, strain interpersonal relationships, and exacerbate difficulties for both foster children and fostering families during transitions.

The emotional repercussions stemming from separation and loss subsequent to a child’s departure were identified as a contributing factor influencing the resignation intentions of 25% of respondents.

This underscores a lack of comprehension regarding the emotional investment foster carers have in the children under their care, a facet crucial for the well-being of the children, and emphasises the necessity for meticulously planned and executed transitions.

Barriers to maintaining relationships – A significant majority (58%) stated that children or young people have been discouraged or prevented from maintaining relationships with them after moving on. This suggests systemic barriers or resistance to supporting ongoing connections between foster children and their former carers, impacting emotional well-being, future well-being and continuity of support for the child.

Unaddressed mental health needs – A substantial proportion (60%) reported that children in their care have mental health needs that go unaddressed. This gap in support can have profound effects on the well-being and stability of foster children, as well as on retention and placement stability for foster carers.

Lack of effective working relationships – A majority (62%) of respondents indicated that they do not always have an effective working relationship with their children’s social worker.

This highlights communication barriers, lack of trust, or other challenges in the collaborative efforts between foster carers and social workers, potentially hindering the quality of support and care provided to foster children.

Conclusion Overall, these findings underscore the need for comprehensive reforms and improvements within the fostering system to address issues related to social worker turnover, care planning, transition planning, relationship maintenance, mental health support, and collaborative working relationships. Efforts to enhance stability, communication, and support mechanisms are crucial to promoting the well-being and success of foster children and their carers.

Professional Role and Support

Insufficient out-of-hours support – A significant majority (77%) of respondents reported that out-of-hours support for foster carers is insufficient, especially during holidays and weekends.

This lack of support during crucial times can exacerbate stress and strain on foster carers, potentially impacting the quality of care provided to foster children and low retention figures.

Limited choice of support services – Only 29% of respondents were given a choice of support services, indicating a lack of flexibility or options tailored to individual needs.

Providing foster carers with a range of support services can enhance their ability to address specific challenges and access resources aligned with their preferences and circumstances.

Lack of awareness about foster carer’s union – An alarming 84% of respondents had not been informed about the existence of their approved and certified foster carer’s union.

This lack of awareness deprives foster carers of potential advocacy, representation, and support networks crucial for addressing their concerns and advocating for their rights within the fostering system.

Self-sourcing of support services – Nearly half (45%) of respondents reported sourcing their own support services, finding those provided by their fostering service inadequate or lacking independence. This reliance on external resources potentially highlights gaps in the support provided by fostering services or agencies.

Supervision challenges – A majority (63%) of respondents had more than one supervising social worker in the last two years, indicating instability and turnover in support personnel.

Many also highlighted long gaps between supervising social workers, further compounding challenges, and undermining the consistency and effectiveness of support provided to foster carers.

Inconsistent supervision sessions – While 70% of respondents received the mandated six-weekly supervision sessions, 30% did not, indicating inconsistencies in adherence to regulatory requirements.

Over 50% of foster carers did not receive a copy of their supervision notes to sign off and retain before their next supervision session. Inadequate supervision can hinder foster carers’ ability to address challenges and access support, potentially impacting the quality of care provided.

Difficulty in discussing fostering roles – A significant proportion (33%) of respondents felt it was not easy to openly discuss their fostering role with their social worker, indicating communication barriers or discomfort in addressing concerns or seeking support. This highlights the importance of providing a supportive and open environment where foster carers feel comfortable and safe discussing their roles, challenges and needs with their social workers.

Conclusion This analysis reveals several critical issues within the foster carers' support system that require urgent attention. The overwhelming majority of respondents highlighted insufficient out-of-hours support, limited choice of support services, and a concerning lack of awareness about foster carer's unions.

Moreover, the reliance on self-sourcing support services, supervision challenges, inconsistent supervision sessions, and difficulty in discussing fostering roles further exacerbate the strain on foster carers.

Addressing these issues is imperative to ensure the well-being of both foster carers and the children under their care, ultimately fostering a more supportive and effective foster care system.

Efforts to enhance out-of-hours support, provide a wider range of tailored support services, increase awareness about support networks, improve supervision stability and consistency, and foster open communication channels are essential steps towards achieving this goal.

Education and Training

Training quality – A notable finding is that 54% of foster carers do not find the training provided by their fostering service/agency to be of a high enough quality or relevance to enhance their effectiveness in their role.

This indicates a gap in the content, delivery, or applicability of the training programs offered, potentially hindering foster carers’ ability to address the diverse needs of foster children and provide optimal care.

Pre-approval training – An even more concerning statistic is that 84% did not find the training and access to information provided before their approval to be completely adequate in preparing them for their fostering role.

This suggests a systemic failure in adequately preparing individuals for the challenges and responsibilities of fostering, potentially leading to unmet expectations, frustration, and difficulties in transitioning into the role of a foster carer.

Conclusion These findings underscore the urgent need for fostering services and agencies to reassess their training programs, ensuring that they are comprehensive, relevant, and tailored to the needs of foster carers. Moreover, efforts should be made to provide ongoing support and professional development opportunities to foster carers to enhance their skills, confidence, and effectiveness in caring for vulnerable children and young people.

Support and Mental Health

Impact on mental health – The data indicates that a staggering 78% of foster carers report that their mental health has suffered because of their fostering role. The responsibility of caring for vulnerable children and managing the intricacies of the fostering system can indeed have a significant impact on the psychological well-being of foster carers.

This underscores the necessity for robust, independent support mechanisms within the system to retain the workforce and empower foster carers to effectively fulfil their role.

Reluctance to seek support – A concerning finding is that 56% of foster carers have chosen not to seek support for their mental health challenges due to fear it could damage their role as a foster carer.

This fear of stigma or repercussions underscores the need for de-stigmatising mental health issues within the fostering community and providing safe spaces for foster carers to seek help without judgment or consequences.

Lack of paid respite/breaks – Nearly half (48%) of foster carers do not have paid respite or breaks as part of their fostering agreement with their providers. This lack of respite can contribute to caregiver burnout and exacerbate mental health challenges, underscoring the importance of providing adequate support and relief for foster carers if they are to provide optimum care for the children they look after.

Difficulty in requesting breaks – A majority (63%) of foster carers do not feel able to ask for a break from their fostering role when they need it. This suggests a culture or system that may discourage foster carers from prioritising their own well-being and seeking necessary support.

Refusal of breaks – A significant proportion (34%) of foster carers have been refused a break, while many others express reluctance to ask for one due to fear or perceived barriers.

This highlights systemic deficiencies in supporting foster carers’ needs for rest and respite, potentially leading to increased stress, mental health issues and decreased retention rates.

Conclusion Overall, the data underscores the urgent need for fostering services and agencies to prioritise the mental and physical health support of foster carers, ensuring that they have access to comprehensive resources, breaks, and assistance to cope with the demands of their role effectively.

Efforts to de-stigmatise mental health issues and promote a culture of self-care and support are essential in addressing these challenges and fostering a healthier, more sustainable fostering environment.

Allegations and Data Protection

Fear of allegations – An overwhelming majority (82%) of respondents reported that the fear of allegations affects their fostering role in some way. This fear can create a sense of vulnerability, anxiety and lack of trust among foster carers, potentially impacting their confidence, decision-making, and ability to provide effective care.

Impact on advocacy – A substantial proportion (41%) of respondents stated that the fear of allegations prevents them from adequately advocating for their children. This fear may hinder foster carers from advocating assertively for their children’s needs or expressing concerns, potentially compromising the quality of care and support provided to foster children.

Lack of confidence in the allegations process – An alarming 85% of respondents do not feel confident that allegations are carried out in a fair, just, and balanced way. This lack of confidence suggests systemic deficiencies or perceived biases in the handling of allegations, potentially undermining foster carers’ trust in the safeguarding processes and their willingness to engage with them.

Concerns about data protection – Over half (54%) of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with their fostering service’s protection of their personal information and compliance with data protection regulations. This indicates a lack of transparency, accountability, or safeguards in place to protect foster carers’ sensitive information, raising concerns about privacy and confidentiality.

Handling of medical data – A concerning finding is that only 19% of respondents indicated that upon completion of a medical report by their general practitioner (GP) for their fostering responsibilities, the report is directly transmitted to the Medical Advisor, who subsequently compiles a concise fitness-to-foster report for the Fostering Service.

Conversely, 61% of respondents expressed a lack of awareness regarding the destination and handling of their medical data, raising uncertainties about its transmission, handling procedures, and adherence to correct protocols.

Conclusion Overall, the findings highlight the urgent need for fostering services and agencies to address foster carers' concerns about allegations and data protection, ensuring transparency, fairness, and accountability in safeguarding processes, as well as robust safeguards for protecting sensitive information. Efforts to enhance communication, education, and support around these issues are essential to fostering a sense of security and trust among foster carers, ultimately promoting the well-being of both foster carers and children in care.

Factors influencing those considering resignation

Feeling undervalued – The most prevalent reason cited by 75% of respondents, is that feeling undervalued indicates a perceived lack of recognition and appreciation for the vital role foster carers play in supporting vulnerable children.

Burnout, exhaustion, or lack of breaks – 61% of respondents cited burnout, exhaustion, or the absence of adequate breaks as factors influencing their consideration of resignation.

This highlights the physical and emotional toll of fostering, underscoring the need for comprehensive support mechanisms to prevent caregiver fatigue.

Lack of support – Nearly six in ten respondents (58%) identified a lack of support as a significant factor in their contemplation of resignation. Insufficient support from fostering services can exacerbate feelings of isolation and overwhelm among foster carers.

The conduct of fostering services – The conduct of social workers emerged as a key concern, with 56% of respondents citing it as a reason for considering resignation.

Negative interactions with social workers can undermine foster carers’ confidence and satisfaction with their role.

Lack of support for the children – Over half of respondents (55%) expressed concerns about inadequate support for the children in their care. This underscores the importance of holistic support systems that prioritise the well-being and needs of foster children.

Financial reasons – Financial considerations were cited by 52% of respondents as a factor influencing their decision to resign. This highlights the economic challenges faced by foster carers and the need for fair remuneration and financial support.

Impact on own birth children or family – The impact of fostering on the foster carer’s own birth children or family was cited by 45% of respondents. Balancing the needs of their own family with those of foster children can present significant challenges for foster carers.

Fear of allegations – A notable concern cited by 38% of respondents was the fear of allegations. This reflects the potential vulnerability of foster carers to unfounded accusations and the need for robust safeguards and independent support mechanisms to address this fear.

Being bullied – A smaller but significant proportion (26%) reported experiencing bullying, highlighting interpersonal challenges within the fostering environment that can contribute to foster carers’ distress.

Grief and loss after a child moves on – The emotional impact of separation and loss after a child moves on was cited by 25% of respondents. This underscores the emotional investment foster carers have in the children in their care and the need for adequate support during transitions.

Not in agreement with a child’s care plan – Finally, 24% of respondents mentioned disagreements with a child’s care plan as a factor in their contemplation of resignation.

This highlights the importance of collaborative decision-making processes that prioritise the best interests of the child.

Conclusion In conclusion, the analysis of key findings within fostering services highlights systemic challenges that require urgent attention and action. From compliance issues and support inadequacies to mental health concerns and retention challenges, addressing these issues necessitates collaborative efforts among stakeholders to create a culture of accountability, support, and respect within the fostering system.

By prioritising the well-being of both foster carers and children in care, fostering services can strive towards providing safe, nurturing environments where children can thrive and reach their full potential.

Recruitment

Finally, we asked, ‘Would you recommend fostering to a friend, family member or colleague?’ Sadly over 75% said they would not.

However, out of those over a third said they would consider recommending if their fostering services provided a commitment to the changes needed as a workforce.

iTOL Accredited NFCQ Foundation Course in Fostering

Enrol in the course today to join the new cohort of Accredited Foster Carers.

Enrol Now!

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