Established in 2014 and conducted every three years, our State of the Nation's Foster Care surveys are the largest and most comprehensive surveys of the UK's fostering sector. We survey both foster carers and fostering services.
The last survey went out in 2021 and the next one will go out this year.
We will be sending out the survey by the end of April 2024 with research published by the end of 2024.
Read our latest State of the Nation's Foster Care report from 2021 here
Our State of the Nation research acts as a yard stick for progress in key areas of foster care from one survey to the next.
By identifying the issues affecting those working in the fostering sector every day, we are able to provide a reliable snapshot of fostering in the UK and understand where improvements need to be made.
We share the survey findings with national and local decision and policy makers to inform and influence the foster care agenda.Our foster carers' survey covers topics including:
- stability for children in foster care
- training, support and finances
- status and authority
- allegations
- views and attitudes towards fostering.
Our fostering services' survey covers topics such as:
- recruitment and retention of foster carers
- support for foster carers
- the matching process
- placement endings for children in foster care
- maintaining relationships.
Previous State of the Nation research
State of the Nation's Foster Care 2019
State of the Nation's Foster Care 2016
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