Ofsted stats reveal urgent need for a new deal for foster carers

Ofsted have released their annual fostering in England statistics, highlighting that many vulnerable children are currently missing out on the care and support they need due to a lack of foster carers.  

Ensuring there are sufficient numbers of skilled and knowledgeable foster carers is one of the biggest challenges currently facing the fostering sector. 

Worryingly, the Ofsted figures show that applications to become a foster carer are at their lowest level in several years. In 2021 to 2022, 8,280 applications were received which is 21% lower than 2017 to 2018. 

In the same year, more mainstream fostering households deregistered (5,435) than were approved (4,035), leading to a net decrease in fostering capacity. 

It is also concerning that the number of vacant mainstream fostering places has decreased by 23% since 2018, meaning less choice for children in care.  

The Fostering Network identified a need for at least 8,100 new foster families in England this year, which means we are falling far short of being able to meet the needs of all children in care.   

Kate Lawson, director of external relations at The Fostering Network, states: ‘The fostering system is under immense pressure. The number of children in need of foster families is increasing at a rate that cannot be met by the existing capacity. 

‘We are supportive of the Government’s focus on the recruitment of 9,000 more foster carers over the next three years in England but believe that this should go further to ensure children truly have a choice about where they want to live.  

‘The Government must be equally focused on retention when implementing this recommendation otherwise efforts made to recruit more foster carers will be lost.  

‘Now is the time to ensure foster carers have the right terms and conditions to enable them to do their job properly, are valued for doing so and remain fostering for as long as they are able. This includes being fully trained and supported, having the authority and status to make day-to-day decisions about the children in their care, their knowledge and skills being valued in the team around the child and being adequately paid for their time, skills and expertise.’   

The Fostering Network supports its fostering services members with their recruitment and retention activity through initiatives such as Foster Care FortnightTM and programmes such as Mockingbird, but more needs to be done at a national level to help services attract and keep carers so no child has to miss out on a stable, loving home. The need to do this has been exacerbated recently by the rising cost of living which is putting increasing pressure on foster families. Next week, The Fostering Network will be launching a campaign calling on governments across the UK to invest in foster care to highlight this issue further.