Fostering is about to get a shot in the arm.
The government are preparing to upgrade fostering.
BTW I'm not sure whether the changes will affect fostering in Scotland and Northern Ireland as my (limited) understanding is that fostering is what's called a devolved issue, meaning that those territories can introduce their own legislation.
My gut is that the proposals will sweep in across the board because fostering needs help and support from Land's End to John O'Groats.
In a nutshell, and I suspect, dear reader, that you know this already, but let's start at the beginning - there aren't enough foster folk. Worse, the numbers of folk who foster are reportedly falling, while the numbers of children who need foster homes is rising.
It's apparently more than a human crisis; it's an economic one too.
The human crisis is obvious. There are literally tens of thousands of children whose 'real' homes are simply no-go areas for them. Social workers battle round the clock to find safe havens for them. They might start by investigating close relatives of the child or children; it can be the best solution. But it's usually impossible. They search their books for approved foster carers who have a vacancy and a match between the child and the foster parents. If they draw a blank the only alternative is to place the child into one of the growing number of residential care homes that are springing up.
The human crisis is this. That huge numbers of children from broken homes are not getting the family life they require, deserve and want. The government is aware that the early-life experiences of these children could cause them serious problems in the future. Not to mention problems for the people they have around them as they go through life.
The economic crisis is also very real. The increasing numbers of residential care homes for children is becoming a huge burden on the country's coffers.
an example.
Do you mind if I caution that the example I have for you is not proven to be the case, so it might be off the mark. But I heard it from a reliable source, namely a foster carer I know, respect and trust.
But if the following is horse manure, remember I'm not Panorama.
So; a foster carer gets a call asking if they would consider taking a parent and baby. The mother and father are teenagers. Social workers are of the view that the mother and father should continue to live separately so the mother can concentrate on her newborn. The foster mum accepts. The case goes to court for a decision.
The judge is a person whose crusade is to 'keep families together". Since the fostering agencies and the local authority are unable to find a foster home that can take both teenagers and the newborn, the judge rules that the threesome should be found residential accomodation where they can be together.
I could go on about the flaws in the alleged judgement, but won't, because I pass this on to illustrate the extent of the possible economic crisis which is becoming a threat.
Here we go;
And remember, the numbers I'm quoting are a) ball park and b) not confirmed.
But I believe they're close to the mark:
The cost to the nation of fostering (in a conventional domestic foster home), a teenager for a year = approx £20-30,000.
The cost of same in a residential care home = up to £300,000 per year.
!
Right, I just need a cop-out for myself. These numbers were quoted to me by a wonderful foster carer, but that doesn't mean they are correct or representative.
My gut is they're likely to be not far off.
So.
The government is on a recruitment drive for new foster carers. It's rumoured they plan making it easier to foster, possibly even providing grants to help familes pay to have an extra bedroom built.
And more.
The propsals will be published anytime soon.
Anyone interested in fostering should get ready to rumble.