News

Children’s lives are being “badly disrupted” due to a critical shortage of foster carers in England, reveals a survey by the Fostering Network, writes Shirley Kumar.

The survey of 97 councils shows a shortage of 8,200 foster carers, a 35 per cent rise on the charity’s last survey in 2002.

London experienced the highest shortage at 2,000 followed by the North West at 1,700.

In a call for the government to introduce a national minimum fostering allowance, Fostering Network director Robert Tapsfield said: “Too many children’s lives are being badly disrupted with frequent moves and foster homes a long way from family, friends and school.”

The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) annual figures ending in March 2003, also showed one in four children in public care live outside their council’s border, while one in seven live in three or more homes in a year.

• The Fostering Network has launched a Code of Practice to aid Scottish fostering services in the recruitment and retention of foster carers. There is currently a shortage of 650 foster carers in Scotland.

To obtain a copy call the network on: 0141 204 1400