News

A major review of fostering and placement services announced by the Department of Health last week has been welcomed by children's campaigners.

The review, unveiled in a speech by health minister Jacqui Smith at the National Quality Protects Conference in Birmingham, will examine how councils recruit foster carers, as well as the provision of rewards, training and support. It will also look at helping councils commission and deliver effective placements, including the contribution of independent fostering agencies.

"The review will build on the improvements in the management and delivery of children's social services that have been put in place over the past three years of the Quality Protects programme," said Smith.

The Choice Protects review aims to provide stability for children in foster care - about two-thirds of England's 58,000 looked-after children - as well as raise the status of foster carers.

Fostering Network executive director Gerri McAndrew commented: "Fostering has always appeared to be the 'poor relation' in children's services, and we are pleased that our calls for it to be given higher priority have been answered."

The Fostering Network is keen for the review to provide the first "meaningful" comparison of the costs and benefits of fostering in the local authority, independent and residential care sectors.

Choice Protects will run in tandem with a review of private fostering, which Smith announced during the committee stage of the Adoption and Children Bill.

Smith agreed to the review in response to a proposed amendment that would have required councils to keep a register of private fostering arrangements. The amendment had been prompted by concerns raised last year in BAAF Adoption & Fostering's A Very Private Practice report that between 8,000 and 10,000 children in unregulated private foster care were at risk of physical, social or sexual abuse. But the amendment was withdrawn following the minister's decision.

In the past fortnight, the DoH has begun consultation with local government, children's organisations and other government departments over the nature and conduct of the review, which is expected to report its findings later this year.