This is a call for evidence to inform a ‘comprehensive understanding’ of the current fostering system in England.
The Government says it wants to know what is working well and why, where improvements are needed to achieve better outcomes for children and identify areas where further research is needed.
Sir Martin Narey and Mark Owers have been appointed by the Secretary of State for Education to conduct this national fostering stocktake. This consultation ix the first stage of this stocktake.
The Government wants to hear from the following about how to make fostering more effective in meeting the needs of children:
- practitioners
- academics
- foster carers
- children in care
- children and adults who have left care
It is looking at:
- the types of fostering currently offered by providers
- the status, role and function of foster carers in relation to other professionals
- how we commission, regulate and inspect fostering settings
- what works best in fostering settings to improve outcomes for children and young people
- how we can improve the experiences of young people entering foster care, transitioning between placements, and leaving foster care
Consultation closes 16 Jun 2017
See here for all consultation documents
See John’s Simmonds’ May 2017 column on the need for a new policy on fostering.
