Call for more people to become local authority foster carers

Call for more people to become local authority foster carers

“Now that I foster with a local authority, the young people stay local...”

As Welsh Government moves ahead with plans to remove profit from the care of looked-after children, Foster Wales Conwy highlights the benefits of fostering with a local authority.

Wales is in the process of a whole system change for children’s services.

The changes proposed in the 2021 co-operation agreement between Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru prioritise services that are locally based, locally designed, and locally accountable.

Within these plans there is a clear commitment to ‘eliminate private profit from the care of looked after children.’ This means, by 2027, care of children that are looked after in Wales will be provided by public sector, charitable or not-for-profit organisations.

In light of these changes, Foster Wales Conwy – which is part of the network representing Wales’ 22 local authorities - are calling for more people to become local authority foster carers and encouraging those currently fostering with a for-profit agency to transfer over to their local authority team.

Cllr Liz Roberts, Conwy’s Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Safeguarding said:

“Wales is leading the way; this policy offers a huge opportunity to make a long-lasting, positive change to social care provision in Wales – benefiting cared for young people today and in the future.

“The need for foster carers continues to grow, we ask the people of Conwy County to step forward. Are you or could you be a foster carer?

“Foster carers are key to making this change in policy a success. And there are many benefits to fostering with your local authority; support from a locally based expert team, extensive learning and developing opportunities, a generous allowance to support you in caring for the children placed with you, plus a ready-made community of foster carers nearby.

But most importantly, the option for young people to stay in their local community. When children stay connected, stay local, and have someone to stick by them for the long term, we see better outcomes.”

In Wales, 79% of children cared for by private fostering agencies are fostered outside their local area, and 6% are moved out of Wales entirely. Meanwhile, 84% of those living with local authority foster carers stay within their own local area, close to home, to school, to family and friends.

Foster carer Jo, who made the switch from an independent agency to Foster Wales, earlier this year, explained her journey – and the difference she’s seen when fostering with the local authority:

“Shortly after I turned forty, I began fostering teenagers through an agency. A lot of the young people came from outside the area. This put them on the back foot. They lost contact with their friends, the places they knew, their roots.

“Now that I foster with a local authority, the young people stay local. This means they stay connected to their roots which helps them feel secure and it’s more natural for visits and family time.”

For more information about fostering, and how to transfer, visit: https://fosterwales.gov.wales/already-fostering/ or email fostering@conwy.gov.uk