We were pleased to see that the Government’s recent strategy in response to the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care provided the biggest investment in fostering into date. It also outlined changes which will make an immediate difference to the lives of children and young people in foster care, such as the above inflationary increase to the national minimum allowance.  

Despite these positive changes, we feel that there are still things missing from the strategy that need to be addressed which will have our continued focus. In this blog, we pull out the key things missing that our members have called for from the start of the review.  

Fiona has been fostering for over six years now, after originally seeing an advert on television years before she decided to seriously consider the role. Fiona speaks about her experiences of fostering and how the support she receives helps her to be the best foster carer she can be. 

At The Fostering Network, we always want to know what our members are experiencing to help make improvements in foster care and shine a light on practice that is working well. We speak with you via our helplines, forums and at events. We also occasionally gather your views through surveys.

In this blog, Daisy Elliott, our research and evidence manager explains why collecting evidence is important to influence policy change and make a real difference to the lives of children and young people, and those that support them.

By Jacqui Shurlock and Vicki Swain, joint head of policy and campaigns. 

Following the publication of the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care in England in May 2022, the Government published yesterday their strategy for the reform of children’s social care: Stable Homes, Built on Love.  

The headlines were covered by the press yesterday and you can see The Fostering Network’s press notice here. This blog outlines our initial thoughts in more detail.