Press releases

Shadow Minister for Children calls for huge investment in foster care services and social worker recruitment

Issued: 27 February 2006

Speaking at a BAAF conference today Tim Loughton MP said poor outcomes for children in care are a ´national scandal´ going unacknowledged in too many areas of government.

He called for increased investment in the recruitment of social workers. He said: "For all the claims we constantly hear about the number of new doctors and nurses, scant attention is given to recruitment of social workers. Vacancy rates remain high whilst morale remains low as they are first in the firing line when things go wrong. There is a great reliance on transient agency staff in a role where building a long term relationship of trust with vulnerable families is key.

"This has got to change and I would like to see proper investment in social worker recruitment and training comparable with what we have seen in the NHS."

The shadow minister also backed the Cost of foster care report, published last year by BAAF and The Fostering Network, which urged Governments of the UK to invest an extra £748 million in foster care services. He said he understood the need for decent fees for foster carers as well as proper allowances and that long-term savings would pay back the investment. He said: "If the alternative to a decent foster placement costing around £350 per week is residential care in a private children´s home costing now more than £2,000 on average, it is a false economy not to be doing more to promote, train and retain foster carers."

In addition, Tim Loughton made the case for ensuring each school has a designated teacher to liaise with looked after children and their carers and possibly also a designated governor to oversee the development of looked after children and act as their advocate. He also suggested a nationwide mentoring programme, whereby people from places such as universities, business and those who have been in care would encourage, support and advise looked after children.

Felicity Collier, BAAF Chief Executive, welcomed the speech and the shadow minister´s commitment to looked after children. She added: "I am delighted that Tim Loughton, Shadow Children´s Minister, has listened to BAAF and he undoubtedly now has an excellent understanding of the value of foster carers and the critical need for investment in foster care. All children in care have experience the trauma and separation from birth parents and other relatives and many have suffered abuse or neglect. We must make sure social workers and foster carers are given the remuneration, training and support they need to ensure every child in care has the best chance in life."

Notes to editors

For more information, contact Daisy O´Clee on 020 7421 2632 / 07767 444 589 or Lucy Handford on 020 7421 2633 or email daisy.oclee@baaf.org.uk / lucy.handford@baaf.org.uk