Supporting foster carers

Through our influencing work we campaign to see foster carers recognised as equal and valued members of the team around child, with their knowledge and expertise respected and valued.

Foster carers have a unique and vital role. They are the only members of the children’s care sector who work with children in their own homes, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, and welcome them as part of their families. 

Status

Foster carers are leaving the sector because they feel their role is under-valued in the team around the child and their expertise is not being heard. 

We are calling for all governments across the UK to:

• develop a recruitment and retention strategy for foster carers
• introduce a skills-based learning and development framework
• introduce a register of foster carers
• introduce a Foster Carers' Charter

Find out more about our work to improve the status of foster carers.

Financial support 

Foster carers regularly raise concerns about a lack of financial support and security. There is currently no requirement for fee payments to be made to foster carers to recognise their time, skills and experience. As a result, many foster carers receive no payment or low levels of payment. 

In addition, foster carers are considered self-employed for tax purposes, but they do not enjoy any of the other benefits of self-employed status.

We are calling for all governments across the UK to ensure:

• foster carers have regular fee payments in line with the national living wage for a 40-hour week, as a minimum
• foster carers who work alongside their fostering role should be entitled to an additional statutory minimum of 5 days paid leave. Read more about our Fostering Friendly Employer Scheme.

Our campaigns

Visit our campaigns page to find out more about our campaigns and sign up to our campaigners mailing list.