Minister for Children and Families (): Today I am setting out
the Government's plan to increase the number of foster care
places in England and renew fostering for modern family life.
Foster families provide the stable, trusted relationships that
children in care need, yet the number of foster carers has fallen
by 12% since 2019. This shortage means too many children live far
from their communities, are separated from siblings, or are
placed in residential care unnecessarily.
To address this, we will create 10,000 additional foster care
places by the end of this Parliament, backed by £88 million over
the next two years. Our plan will reverse the decline in foster
carers, strengthen support around foster families, and put
trusted relationships at the centre of decision‑making for
children in care.
We will launch a national recruitment and awareness campaign,
supported by improved digital tools and strengthened data
collection. A £25 million capital programme will help existing
carers expand or renovate their homes to care for more children,
including sibling groups.
We will enhance regional collaboration through expanding
Fostering Recruitment Hubs, supported by £12.8 million, providing
a single route into fostering with consistent assessment and
post‑approval support. A further £10.8 million will support new
Regional Care Cooperatives to increase placement availability and
improve stability for children.
To encourage innovation, we will invest £12.4 million to test new
models such as step‑down care, weekend and short‑break fostering,
strengthened supported lodgings, and additional remand foster
placements. We will also improve retention by investing £8.9
million in over 100 new Mockingbird constellations and by
strengthening training, support, and the handling of allegations.
We will also pursue greater transparency in foster care financial
support.
Finally, we will simplify the fostering rulebook. We will update
fostering standards and guidance, work with Ofsted to reshape
inspection around trusted relationships, and set clearer
expectations that the assessment and approval process should not
exceed the six‑month standard we have for adoption. Foster carers
will be empowered to make day‑to‑day decisions for children in
their care, and we will strengthen support for kinship foster
care, working hard to protect children's links to trusted adults.
Alongside the publication of the Government's Action Plan, we
will launch a consultation and call for evidence to ensure our
next steps are informed by foster carers, and children with lived
experience.
Through simplifying the rules, improving support, and acting both
nationally and regionally, this Government will increase the
number of children able to live in loving, stable homes and build
the long‑term relationships they need.
