10,000 more children in loving foster homes - the government's plan for reform

Mutual Ventures welcomes the government's plan for renewing fostering and the commitment to further embedding regional collaboration.

The announcement on fostering marks a significant move in the government's ambition to reform children's social care and provide more loving homes for children. It is an acknowledgement of the vital role that foster carers play in the social care system, society and in the lives of vulnerable children.

Central to the proposals is a bold commitment to redesigning and expanding Regional Fostering Hubs, to operate as fully end‑to‑end services - from initial enquiry, through assessment and approval, to ongoing support for foster carers.

The ambition is to deliver high‑quality, regionally-coordinated support. End‑to‑end hubs have the potential to reduce duplication, streamline the experience for prospective carers, and ensure that children are placed in stable, nurturing homes more quickly.

To inform the wider proposed reforms, government launched a consultation, inviting views from foster carers, children and young people, local authorities, and their partners. 

You can read the full announcement and consultation document on GOV.UK: Renewing fostering: homes for 10,000 more children - GOV.UK

Mutual Ventures welcome the government's ambition. Through our work supporting the first phase of the fostering hub programme, we have seen how the approach - when designed well and grounded in local needs - can improve recruitment. We look forward to what is to come and drawing on the insights from existing hubs as they transition to new end‑to‑end models.

Anya Kemble, MV fostering programme manager

If you'd like to hear more about the themes in this article, please contact Anya.Kemble@mutualventures.co.uk or visit our Fostering page.