The Government launched the Foster Carers’ Charter in March 2011. The Charter was jointly produced by Government, fostering organisations, charities and children. It is part of the Government’s wider programme of reform to improve the care system – including reducing barriers and delays to adoption and improving the quality of children’s homes. The overall aim is to make sure that all children in care have a better chance at a stable family life.
Children’s Minister Tim Loughton said:
Foster carers do a fantastic, selfless job helping often vulnerable children build stable relationships that can endure into adulthood. Too often I hear stories about foster parents feeling isolated, unsupported, and facing endless red tape when all they are trying to do is enjoy everyday activities with their foster child – like taking them on holiday or even for a haircut.
The Charter underlines the huge value we place on foster carers. Not only as role models to the children who look up to them, but also as pushy parents who put those children first. The Charter sets out clear principles of what support should be available and what foster carers can expect.
Many fostering services have already signed up to the Charter, including their own local commitments, and are implementing it. We hope that the Charter is making a real difference in these areas, and would be pleased to hear your examples of good practice. For those who haven’t yet developed their Charter, we hope the following information will be helpful:
The Fostering Network have produced a note which includes advice on how to put the Foster Carers’ Charter into practice and some ideas for discussion when developing local charters.
Some fostering services who are successfully implementing their Charter have provided us with information about how they are doing this and how their Charter was developed. These can be found under 'case studies' on the left hand menu, along with the associated local Charters for these services.
The associated resource section includes the national Foster Carers’ Charter. This version can be edited to include contact details for those who have signed up to the Charter’s commitments and space to include your additional local commitments important for your fostering service and foster carers. Also included are an A3 poster of the Charter, an A3 poster version with the ministerial foreword and a video that Tim Loughton MP made when the national Charter was launched.
Contact details
If you would like to tell the Department that you have signed up to the Charter, or let us know what you have been doing then please contact Vivienne Smith in the fostering team at vivienne.smith@education.gsi.gov.uk.
