Press releases

Landmark new report calls for an extra £28.5 million for quality foster care for children in Northern Ireland

Issued: 15 September 2005

The Fostering Network and the British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF) are calling on the Northern Ireland Government to invest an extra £28.5 million in foster care services.

The two charities launch their unique report in Northern Ireland, ´The Cost of Foster Care - Investing in our children's future´, at The Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings, Belfast on Tuesday 20th September 2005. The event will be hosted by Mr Mervyn Storey MLA.

The report, which is the first ever study of its kind, assesses the spending that is required 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.

The Cost of Foster Care draws on the experiences of an expert working group from health boards, trusts, independent fostering agencies and local authorities across the UK. A number of important assumptions were made about the shape of a quality foster care service.

Evidence shows a shortfall of at least 350 foster carers across Northern Ireland and this contributes to the lack of choice for children, placement disruption and further instability. This extra expenditure would address the crisis in recruitment and retention of foster carers and ensure that children were provided with the high quality care they need, enabling them to do well at school and settle in the community.

Robert Tapsfield, Chief Executive of the Fostering Network said:
"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 Northern Ireland government to invest a further £28.5m 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."

Felicity Collier, Chief Executive of BAAF said:
"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."

The report shows that the governments of Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England needs to spend an estimated £1.7 billion in 2005/6. The shortfall in funding between stated expenditure in 2003/4 and the funding needed in 2005/6 in the UK is £748m and in Northern Ireland is £28.5million. The Fostering Network and BAAF recommend that the extra funding is seen as an investment into one of the most vulnerable social groups in society.

Cecil Worthington, ADSS Chair, Northern Ireland, said:
´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´.

Broad support for the report´s findings comes from the Association of Directors of Social Services in Northern Ireland, England and Wales, the Association of Directors of Social Work in Scotland, the Local Government Association, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Commission for Social Care Inspection.

Key Findings

1. In 2003/4 the governments of Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England spent an estimated £932.2 million on foster care services. We have estimated that the governments need to spend at least £1.7 billion in 2005/6, which means there is a current shortfall of almost £748 million across the UK.
2. The shortfall in funding between stated expenditure in 2003/4 and the funding required in 2005/6 is £748 million. The shortfall in funding for each of the countries in 2005/6 is as follows:
• Northern Ireland - £28.5 million
• England - £615.7 million
• Scotland - £65.5 million
• Wales - £37.8 million
3. The report calculations are based on assumptions that:
• all foster carers should be paid the Fostering Network´s minimum recommended allowance for the children in their care;
• foster carers who, by agreement with their agency, make themselves available for 52 weeks per year should be paid a fee throughout the year;
• post-approval training should be an essential part of an effective foster care service and at least 50% of foster carers should be trained to S/NVQ1 Level 3 or an equivalent level of qualification;
• children in foster care often have additional education and health needs, and the provision of specialist help and advice should be available to foster carers in order to improve outcomes, especially in education;
• significant investment is required in the management of foster care services and the support services to foster carers;
• significant investment is needed to improve recruitment and find foster carers who can meet the needs of children from diverse backgrounds.

- Ends-

Related external link:
View the BBC Northern Ireland news article on the launch of the 'Cost of Foster Care report' at BBC News Northern Ireland

For media information, and a copy of the report, please contact Roberta Goldstein at the Fostering Network on 020 7620 6441 or 07963 458953 roberta.goldstein@fostering.net or Daisy O'Clee at BAAF on 020 7593 2053 or 07767 444589 daisy.o'clee@baaf.org.uk.

Notes to Editors

The Fostering Network and The British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) are the two leading charities in the UK for all people involved in fostering. For more information about the Fostering Network call 020 7620 6400 or visit www.fostering.net and for information about BAAF call 020 7593 2000 or go to the About BAAF web page