South Glos Foster Carer Mandy attended the House of Commons to celebrate 50 years of The Fostering Network at the launch of its 2024 State of the Nations’ Foster Care report.
South Glos Foster Carer and Mockingbird Home Carer, Mandy Gibson joined South Gloucestershire Council’s Mockingbird Lead, Lucy Robinson on a trip to Westminster recently to attend The Fostering Network’s 50th Anniversary and the launch of its 2024 State of the Nations’ Foster Care report.
Challenges facing the fostering sector
The event, hosted by Josh MacAlister MP who led the Independent Care Review in England, included speeches from the Children’s Minister Janet Daby MP, comedian and foster carer Kiri Pritchard-McLean, care experienced author Rowan Aderyn and MPs from Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and England.
While the event was a celebration of 50 years of UK’s biggest fostering charity, The Fostering Network, it was a sobering reminder that there are still significant challenges facing foster carers including the cost of living and a rise in children needing mental health support.
Mandy and her partner Adam, who have been fostering with South Gloucestershire Council (Foster South Glos) for 16 years, became the first Mockingbird Hub Carers in South Glos, supporting ten local fostering families.
Mandy said: “It was an honour to attend the event. It’s really important foster carers and the children in their care are properly supported. We’ve been lucky to have had great support as foster carers, but I know that isn’t the case for everyone. I hope that this report will raise awareness of the challenges and improve things for foster carers, their families and the children and young people in our care.”
Zafer Yilkan, Service Director for Children’s Social Care and Preventative Services at South Glos Council said: “We’re delighted that Mandy and Lucy were invited to represent South Glos at this important event. With more than 200 children and young people in our care, we take our role as corporate parents seriously. It great to see the work that The Fostering Network are doing to identify challenges, push for changes and drive improvements in the fostering sector.”
State of the Nations’ Foster Care Survey
The State of the Nations’ Foster Care survey is the largest and most comprehensive study of the UK’s fostering sector. The survey informs The Fostering Network’s work and is shared with key decision makers, offering an authentic and relevant picture of the realities of fostering today.
The 2024 report which surveyed more than 3,000 foster carers, former foster carers, and fostering services, highlights that the current challenges foster carers face are significant, but the drive for change within the fostering sector is stronger than ever.
The report calls on the government to:
- Create a national recruitment campaign, framework for pre- and post-approval training, and register for foster carers in each nation of the UK
- Increase financial support for foster carers, including through a national fee framework, pension scheme, and increased allowances
- Introduce statutory ‘opt-out’ maximum delegated authority for foster carers to make decisions on behalf of children and young people in their care
- Invest in increased support for children in care and foster carers, including mental health and wellbeing support
- Extend the upper age limit for foster care to age 25 to improve transitions to independence for young people
- Fund innovative programmes including Mockingbird and Step Up Step Down
