Scots will not limit numbers per carer

Scottish ministers look set to turn down calls from fostering experts to place a cap on the maximum number of children placed with individual carers.

Despite calls for the executive to follow England and Wales’ lead by limiting the number of children foster carers can look after at one time to three, Community Care has learned this is unlikely to be in its forthcoming fostering strategy.

Sources said ministers were understood to be concerned it would mean there would not be enough foster carers for the looked-after population.

Currently a quarter of carers look after between four and six children, and Fostering Network Director Bryan Ritchie said: “If we overload existing carers then it is possible they will leave the service and this will act as a disincentive to recruit new ones.

By introducing placement limits you are supporting carers but the executive thinks there might be better ways of addressing this.”

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