Future of Fostering in Scotland

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Published: 12 December 2006

Future of Fostering in Scotland

A plan which will shape foster and kinship care in Scotland over the next 20 years has been launched by the Scottish Executive.

The consultation on the National Fostering and Kinship Care Strategy includes proposals to improve care for foster children and the support offered to those providing care.

The strategy has been drafted with support from a panel of experts including The Fostering Network, BAAF, Barnardos, NCH, ADSW, CoSLA and foster & kinship carers

It contains proposals to:

· Give every child in foster or kinship care a better chance by providing them with safe, stable & secure placement

· Allow a young person in foster/kinship care to remain in home beyond 18th birthday if appropriate

· Improve recruitment & retention of foster carers through additional support

· Determine & standardise payments across Scotland to foster carers

Education Minister Hugh Henry said:

"Scotland's children are its future. We want every child to have a safe, stable and secure home environment to give them the best start in life.

Our foster and kinship carers already play a vital role in supporting and shaping those who will go on to shape Scotland's future.

We must guarantee the support we give our looked after children, and those who look after them, is of the highest standard possible.

That's why we are asking those who know best of all to tell us how we can make the Scottish care system the best in the world."

Bryan Ritchie, director of the Fostering Network Scotland, said:

"This is an important milestone for both foster and kinship care in Scotland.

We will be working with the Scottish Executive to ensure that both foster and kinship carers and social workers participate in the consultation process over the coming months.

Foster carers' views, along with those of children in foster and kinship care will help shape the development of the strategy.

At the Fostering Network our ambition is to put in place a system that provides Scotland's most vulnerable children with the type of care that we would want for our own children."

The Executive has allocated £12 million to councils for foster and kinship carers between December 2005 and March 2008.

In 2006-7 a further £2 million will be distributed in capital grant to local authorities for fixed assets (such as washing machines or bedroom furniture) to improve the quality of care & support provided by foster and kinship carers to vulnerable children.

Statistics

As at March 1, 2006, 3,731 children and young people were cared for by foster carers.

As at March 31, 2006, 1,726 children were accommodated with friends/relatives.

The consultation closes 16 February 2007.

Further information

National Fostering and Kinship Care Strategy

Extraordinary lives: creating a positive future for looked after children and young people

The Fostering Network Scotland