Our response to the Observer's piece: 'Britain’s care homes crisis'

Over the weekend the Observer published findings into their investigation of a ‘crisis in the system’. They reported that some children in foster care in Britain are being moved to foster families and care homes more than 300 miles away from the neighbourhoods they grew up in, removing them from critical support networks and everything they are familiar with.  

Describing the situation as a ‘national scandal’, they highlight that in London alone, there are currently 600 children living in homes more than 50 miles from their neighbourhoods.   

The piece emphasises what The Fostering Network have long spoken about: that too often, due to a lack of foster carers, children are placed with foster families away from their local communities and sibling groups are separated.  

Sarah Thomas, director of England and Wales at The Fostering Network elaborates on the impact this has on those in foster care experiencing such drastic change and separation:  

‘Children and young people coming into care will already have lost so much when they become looked after, and when it is safe to do so, we must maintain the things in their lives we are able to. This includes their education, favourite teacher, the football club, friends they have comfort from, the family who they know and of course, siblings.  

‘A child’s identity is so important and must not be overlooked. We need to ensure that everything is done to keep the things that forms that child’s everyday life – the figures published this weekend show this is being compromised far too often.’  

Following the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care in England, the Government have committed £27 million into foster care – their biggest investment to date. It’s vital that all changes have children and young people at the heart of them, and foster carer retention and recruitment is prioritised so children are not removed from their communities.  

We will continue to push and campaign for the fostering community so that these statistics are no longer a reality – children and young people deserve better and must be surrounded by the people who help them to thrive, in the areas they belong.