Member

It is widely understood that one of the most significant drivers of cost per placement and delay in placing children in the right home is the lack of foster carers able to take children into their care. The number of households, as we have heard, willing or able to foster a child is decreasing. At the same time, the number of children in care remains at a record high. With 68% of all looked-after children in foster care, demand is outstripping homes available. A reduction in fostering households means fewer options for the placement of children. Ofsted research from 2024 found that 91% of local authorities that responded to its survey frequently had difficulty in finding suitable homes for children with complex needs.