Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 4
4
Accepted
Set out how to address barriers to increasing foster carer numbers with clear timeframe and milestones.
Recommendation
To reduce the demand for children’s residential care, the Department is relying on there being more foster carers, but it has yet to address the significant challenges to increase numbers. The Department sees reducing demand for residential care as key to reducing costs. To do so, it plans to work with children at an earlier stage so they do not need to be looked after by a local authority, and then also increase foster carer household numbers. However, between March 2020 and March 2024, the number fell by 9%, when excluding fostering with friends and family. The Department has initiatives to increase foster care numbers but lacks clear evidence that they are working, with its evaluations too early yet for clear results. It has also launched hubs to co-ordinate recruitment and improve the support foster carers receive. However, it is unclear how this will address the underlying barriers to increasing foster care, such as the cost of living, issues finding spaces in homes, and foster carer’s pay and fees. Some local authorities have used their discretion to adopt initiatives, such as council tax reductions for foster carers. However, the Department does not systematically encourage and direct these initiatives and is waiting for progress on wider initiatives. recommendation Drawing on what local authorities are doing, and its own analysis, the Department should set out how it will address the barriers to increasing the number of foster carers, with a clear timeframe and milestones.
Government Response Summary
The government accepted the recommendation, noting it published an action plan, 'Renewing fostering: homes for 10,000 more children,' in February 2026. This plan details a comprehensive approach to increase foster care places, including national recruitment, digital tools, capital investment, and support for existing and prospective carers.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented On 4 February 2026 the department published an action plan and consultation, Renewing fostering: homes for 10,000 more children, which sets out the approach to significantly increasing the number of foster care places available to children and young people. This includes national recruitment and awareness raising, digital tools, and capital investment to expand the capacity in existing foster family homes; building on the existing regional recruitment hub model, ensuring prospective foster carers are supported throughout the whole process; a new innovation programme to spread and scale new models of care; bolstering the recognition and support to ensure that the existing foster carers are retained; and simplifying the rulebook to ensure relationships are at the heart of decision making.