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Fostering good relations
13/09/1999
Although more foster carers are being recruited than lost, an overall shortage of foster carers in Scotland is revealed by a national study of fostering published today.
Commenting on the report's findings, Sam Galbraith, Minister for Children and Education, said:
"There are significant lessons here for local authorities in how best to recruit, retain and support foster carers. I regard this as an extremely important area of social care provision, and we have already made extra money available to authorities to help improve it."
The study, which was prompted by a concern about difficulties in recruiting and retaining foster carers, found:
· A low average annual loss of carers - seven per cent of the total number of carers in Scotland for the period 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997.
· Six per cent more carers were recruited than lost during the same period.
· Overall there was a shortage of carers. Foster placements were not found for a third of children referred for fostering over a six-week period.
· Recruitment of foster carers was often unsystematic.
· There was considerable dissatisfaction amongst carers about the levels of support provided to the children and themselves, including the availability of social workers.
· Within local authorities, the profile of fostering services was generally low, relative to other services. This had a negative effect on development of fostering policy and resources.
· Management of fostering services was divided and weak. In three-fifths of agencies, however, arrangements were changing or under review.
· Almost all agencies paid the fostering allowances as recommended by the National Foster Care Association. Carers and managers, however, were not satisfied with the level of payments and were concerned about some differences in payments for services.
The report will be among the issues considered at a major national conference on foster care services in Perth which Mr Galbraith will open on 15 November.
BACKGROUND
1. The study was commissioned by The Scottish Office; researchers from Strathclyde and Glasgow Universities carried out the work, which involved a questionnaire; interviews and a census all carried out in 1997.
2. The report of the study, Fostering Good Relations: A study of Foster Care and Foster Carers in Scotland is available from The Stationery Office Bookshop, 71 Lothian Road, Edinburgh, EH3 9AZ, Price £6.00.
3. Media copies of the research 'Findings' (a four-page summary of the main research findings) are available by telephoning 0131 244 2598.
4. Extra funding of £2.2m has been given to local authorities this year to help improve fostering services. This is part of the £37m additional funding over three years in the Children's Services Development Fund aimed at expanding foster care, getting better advocacy for looked after children and increased family centre provision for very young children.
News Release: SE0576/99
13 September, 1999