Huge instability for children and young people in care as foster carers report significant burnout

Significant burnout and poor wellbeing among foster carers are leading to more instability for children and young people in the care system, according to new figures from the UK’s leading fostering charity.

As the number of young people in care across the UK exceeds 100,000, and foster carer numbers continue to drop, The Fostering Network’s State of the Nations’ Foster Care 2024 report lays bare the immense challenges facing foster carers, and the serious impact this is having on children and young people.

The survey of 3,000 foster carers, former foster carers and fostering services found that the whole sector is calling for urgent change and more investment. Foster carers report feeling less supported and valued, experiencing high levels of burnout and poor wellbeing. Social worker turnover and service pressures are impacting on delivery.

These challenges are resulting in higher rates of unplanned moves for children and young people in their care.
A worrying 60% of foster carers surveyed have considered resigning from the role, with the top reasons cited as lack of support from their fostering service, a lack of respect from other professionals and burnout or poor wellbeing.

Whilst recent government efforts across the UK to improve the recruitment of more foster carers have been welcome, this report reveals the pressure foster families are under and the importance of retaining the thousands of foster carers who are currently looking after children and young people.

Top findings: 

• Over half (58%) of foster carers have experienced burnout or poor wellbeing because of their fostering role.  
• The number of foster carers who would recommend fostering to others has decreased. Less than half (48%) of foster carers said they would recommend fostering to others who may be considering it, down from 54% in 2021.  
• The top motivation for fostering (selected by 89% of respondents in 2024) remains “to make a difference to the lives of children in care”, yet 60% of foster carers surveyed have considered resigning from the role. The main reasons for this are: a lack of support from their fostering service (54%); a lack of respect from other professionals (54%); burnout or poor wellbeing related to fostering (53%).
• Only a quarter of foster carers said they feel their fee is sufficient to cover their essential living costs, for example bills, rent or mortgage, and food (not for the children they foster). 
• Foster carers rated support from their supervising social workers the most highly of all forms of support; 74% rated it as excellent or good, yet only 35% rated out of hours support in this way.
• Two thirds (64%) of foster carers who experienced a child moving on in the past 24 months said this included an unplanned ending – a concerning increase from 45% in 2021.
• Two in five (39%) foster carers are fostering a child who needs mental health support but isn’t getting it, up from a third in 2021 (33%).

These issues are putting pressure on a system already in crisis, as it becomes increasingly difficult to retain existing and recruit new foster carers. If urgent improvements aren’t made, it will become even more difficult to provide the right care to children and young people, potentially putting them at risk.

Declining foster carer numbers means: sibling groups are more likely to be split up when they go into care; children are being placed far away from their communities; and fewer specialist foster carers are available to support children with additional needs.

The report lays out a series of recommendations for all governments across the UK to make fostering more sustainable for foster carers, children and young people.

This includes:

• Prioritise improved support for foster carers, including therapeutic, peer, and out-of-hours support.
• Introduce a register of foster carers in each nation to increase foster carers’ status and support matching of children with foster carers. 
• Increase allowances for foster carers to meet The Fostering Network’s recommended rates and introduce and introduce and fund a national fee framework to ensure foster carers can afford to look after children in their care.

Chief executive of The Fostering Network, Sarah Thomas, says: “The Fostering Network has been campaigning for change in the fostering sector for 50 years and while we have seen significant improvements for foster carers and children during that time, foster carers numbers are continuing to fall as the numbers of young people needing  care grows.

"Foster carers play a vital role in transforming the lives of children and young people, yet those responding to our survey report they are being pushed to breaking point. The State of the Nations’ findings paint a stark picture - burnout, financial strain, and a lack of recognition are forcing many to consider leaving fostering altogether. 

“Without urgent action, we risk losing more foster carers, making it even harder to provide stability for children in care. With legislation and policy developments on children’s social care taking place across the UK, the Government has the opportunity to introduce meaningful reforms to ensure foster carers are valued, supported, and financially secure, so every child has the home and care they deserve."