News

The Fostering Network is disapointed with Westminster Government's response to the fostering stocktake and education select committee inquiry in England, Fostering Better Outcomes.

‭The Fostering Network has launched its biennial survey of foster carers: The State of the Nation's Foster Care 2018 survey.

Responding to an announcement from some head teachers in Kent that they will no longer accept looked after children from London unless ministers take personal responsibility for their safety, The Fostering Network’s chief executive, Kevin Williams, said: ‘Moving fostered young people from their local area is a decision that should not be taken lightly and in the majority of cases it will be more beneficial for the young person to have the stability of staying near family, friends and their wider support network.

Today the Westminster Government formally announced how it will introduce the 15 extra hours of free childcare for fostered children in England from September. Responding to the announcement, Kevin Williams, chief executive of The Fostering Network said: ‘We warmly welcome this announcement which comes following a campaign led by The Fostering Network and our supporters.

Today the Scottish Government released figures showing educational outcomes for looked after children in Scotland during 2016-17. The figures show that the gap between looked after children, especially fostered children, and all school leavers is closing significantly (the gap was 45 per cent in 2009-10 and 17 per cent in 2016-17); and that stability of relationships is directly linked to educational outcomes.

We are delighted to announce that our trustee, Susanna Daus, has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for her outstanding work in fostering and adoption. Susanna is the manager of Islington Council’s adoption and fostering service and will be awarded a British Empire Medal.

Susanna said: ‘It’s fantastic and I’m very flattered, but a little embarrassed, to be recognised, but this is a great way to talk about the amazing work of foster carers in Islington, and the need for more foster carers and adopters to look after our very special children and young people.’

Responding to the England Children's Commissioner's second Stability Index report, Kevin Williams, chief executive of The Fostering Network said: 'The Fostering Network knows that foster care has the potential to transform the lives of children and young people living in foster homes, and the basis of that potential is stability.

Foster Care Fortnight 2018, Northern Ireland’s largest celebration of fostering, was launched today (Monday 14 May) at an event in the Seamus Heaney Centre, Bellaghy by The Fostering Network in partnership with the Regional Adoption and Fostering Service and hosted by the Northern Health and Social Care Trust.

Commenting on today’s publication of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s report Firm foundations: council support and advice for special guardians, Jackie Sanders, The Fostering Network’s director of communications and public affairs said:

'We welcome the publication of this excellent report, which highlights some of the challenges that are being faced by special guardians across England.

The Fostering Network is today writing to Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland, to express our deep concern over the Scottish Government’s decision to omit continuing care allowances from their review of fostering, kinship care and adoption allowances.

It has taken many years of campaigning by The Fostering Network and our members to get to the point where allowances are being reviewed with the intention of introducing a minimum fostering allowance - the Scottish Government first made a promise to look into foster care allowances as long ago as 2006.