Carers ‘Forum must look at private agencies’

The director of social services at North Tyneside Council has
called on the government’s new National Partnership in Placement
Forum to investigate the increasing role the independent sector
plays in providing foster care.

John Phillipson said his council had lost 63 placements and 10
carers to independent fostering agencies (IFAs) in the past year.
Seven more carers may leave soon. IFAs offer carers higher
allowances, better pay, 24-hour social work support and more
training. The costs of providing these are passed onto councils.