Government Unveils Fostering Reform Strategy to Address Systemic Pressures
The landscape of children's social care in England often remains out of the public eye until a tragic failure occurs, highlighting systemic vulnerabilities. With nearly 55,000 children currently living with foster carers, the system faces intense pressure despite a recent decline in the overall number of children in care. Rising operational costs and the expanding influence of private providers in both residential care and foster placements have exposed significant weaknesses, yet comprehensive reform has been slow to materialise. Ministers have now introduced plans to reshape fostering, but the critical question remains: will these measures genuinely fix the system or merely provide a superficial cover for its deep-seated issues?
Key Proposals to Boost Foster Carer Recruitment and Support
The Department for Education's new policy paper outlines a primary focus on increasing the number of foster carers, with a target of creating 10,000 additional non-profit placements by 2029. Children's minister Josh MacAlister, who previously led a sector review under the Conservative government, has drawn parallels to the Homes for Ukraine scheme, which successfully mobilised nearly 74,000 volunteers to host refugees. A national recruitment campaign is anticipated imminently, which is particularly timely given that approximately one-third of current foster carers are over the age of 60, underscoring the urgent need to attract new individuals to this vital role.
Beyond recruitment, the proposals emphasise strengthening the support frameworks that surround foster carers. Key initiatives include:
- Enhanced collaboration between local councils to share resources and best practices.
- Financial grants for experienced foster carers to modify or extend their homes, potentially enabling them to accommodate siblings or additional children.
- Specialist placements for young people on remand as an alternative to custody, aiming to reduce the imprisonment of vulnerable, unconvicted youth.
Welcome Improvements and Persistent Gaps in the Reform Agenda
Many aspects of the proposed reforms merit support. The emphasis on avoiding custody for non-convicted young people aligns with principles of justice and welfare, while improved local fostering networks could offer invaluable peer support and practical assistance, such as temporary respite care. Accelerating the approval process for foster carers is another sensible measure, as there is no justifiable reason for it to take longer than adoption procedures. Furthermore, ensuring that foster carers have a voice in decisions affecting the children in their care is a crucial step toward empowerment and collaboration.
However, significant concerns linger. The agenda lacks clarity on leadership and long-term sustainability, raising doubts about its implementation. More critically, there is little evidence of concrete action to address the excessive profits identified by the Competition and Markets Authority in 2022 within the private provider sector. Current pledges to curb these profits appear more as vague threats than enforceable policies. Additionally, it is disheartening that in 2026, there remains a need to advocate for consistency in social services, as frequent changes in professionals can destabilise the lives of looked-after children. Improving the retention of social workers must be a fundamental priority to ensure stable support teams.
Broader Context and Future Challenges for Children's Social Care
Recent evaluations, such as the Institute for Government's review of public services under Sir Keir Starmer's administration, have rated children's social care favourably, reflecting some progress. Minister MacAlister's prior involvement in policy development has provided a head start, complemented by increased funding, including a £555 million investment over two years. Yet, the sector's tendency to garner attention only during catastrophic failures, such as child deaths, underscores the fragility of the system. While recruiting more foster carers is a necessary step, it is insufficient on its own. Without decisive leadership, effective curbs on profiteering, and stable social work teams, the foster care system will remain vulnerable to ongoing pressures and potential crises.
