The cost of foster care

> About the campaign
> Support for the report

About the campaign

The Fostering Network and the British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF) are calling on the Governments of the UK to invest an extra £748 million in foster care services across the UK.

There is a shortfall of at least 10,000 foster carers across the UK. This contributes to the lack of choice for children, placement disruption and further instability.

We've produced a report that assesses the spending that is needed to transform foster care services in order to give children in public care the same opportunities to have a successful future as other children in our society.

This extra spending would:

• address the crisis in recruitment and retention of foster carers
• ensure that children are provided with the high quality care they need
• enable children to do well at school and settle in the community.

> Download the report (pdf)
> Read the press release
> Read Tony Blair's letter to David Kidney MP about the campaign (pdf)
> Read Des Browne's letter to David Kidney MP about the campaign (pdf)

Support for the report

The report is being supported by a wide range of children's organisations:

"For the first time we have we have a substantial and robust calculation of what providing foster care costs. It demonstrates that there is a massive shortfall. This is a call to the governments of the UK to invest a further £748m in foster care services each year. We should ensure that the outcomes for children in foster care are the same as those we want for our own children."
Robert Tapsfield, Chief Executive of the Fostering Network

"There is an overwhelming need to do better for children in public care. It is simply not good enough that there is no choice of foster carer for so many children, and that foster carers are not paid a living wage throughout the year so that they can be available when needed. The report makes the case for planned long term investment in the children who are at risk of becoming the parents of tomorrow's poorest children instead of happy, economically active citizens. We know the sum is huge, but we believe long term savings can be achieved from the adult and family support services that so many looked after children currently need throughout their lives. "
Felicity Collier, Chief Executive of BAAF

"Foster carers provide an invaluable and too often undersung service to thousands of youngsters each year throughout the UK. They are often the very first people social care workers turn to when safe refuge is sought for vulnerable children. Directors of social services and children's services have long argued for substantial additional funding to be made available for fostering services, and we wish BAAF and the Fostering Network every success."
John Coughlan, Chair of the ADSS Children and Families Committee

"This report is extremely opportune coming at a time when the service has experienced a decline in foster carers and less applicants. There is a need for more long term carers; more choice for children at the point of entering the Care System, greater capacity is needed for older children, those with complex needs and sibling groups. The report rightly recommends through investing in appropriate allowances, training and support better outcomes can be achieved for children in public care".
Cecil Worthington, ADSS Chair, Northern Ireland Branch

"We have been in close discussion with BAAF and the Fostering Network and we welcome the report as an important contribution to the debate. The report rightly identifies the long term savings on the costs associated with adults who experienced a lack of stability whilst in care. We recommend that work is now carried out to assess these costs because we believe the potential savings would far outweigh the investment which is needed in foster care. We also welcome the fact that the report highlights where savings, including efficiency savings, may offset some of the additional costs identified"
Cllr Alison King, Chair of the LGA's Children and young people board

"What we know from an inspection activity is that there is a need to improve outcomes for children and young people in foster care. Our inspections have revealed that just under 40% of fostering providers are still not meeting the standard required on matching, which is key to achieving stability for these children. It is essential that there is an increase in the choice of foster carers for children and young people which will lead to a real improvement in outcomes, with the right placement for the right child at the right time."
David Behan, Chief Inspector, Commission for Social Care Inspection

"The Cost of Foster Care highlights the shocking under-investment in the care of looked after children throughout the country. Children and young people in care, whether fostered or in residential settings, need to develop and maintain strong and sustainable relationships with family, friends, professional workers and carers, including foster carers. For all our children, achieving stable family environments must be an absolute priority. As a society we need to push this issue much higher up our agenda if we are to invest in these children and their future life chances."
John Kemmis Chief Executive, Voice for the child in care

When we take children and young people into care for a better life, we take on the responsibility of providing a properly resourced care service. This is the only way to give them the opportunities to create a brighter future. Investment will pay dividends for them, for their children and for society in the longer term.
Susanna Cheal OBE, Chief executive, The Who Cares? Trust

"We know that a stable and happy place to live is key to ensuring young people in care are able to live secure and fulfilled lives and reach their potential. For too many young people in care the alternative can mean a disrupted life of many moves, struggling in school and then falling ever further behind their peers through no fault of their own."
Joyce Moseley, chief executive of Rainer