Vox Pop: Should foster carers register with multiple agencies?

YES - Raymond Bewry, chair, Norfolk Foster Care Association

Our proposal would broaden the scope for foster carers to find a match within the support structure.

A lot of placements fail because of a relationship breakdown between the foster carer and fostering provider, or their supervising social worker. That is sometimes due to the foster carer feeling unsupported. There are registered foster carers both without placements and with fewer children than they are approved to have.

There are foster carers who have been encouraged to give up their careers to focus on fostering, and then find themselves in one of the situations described above.

The opportunity to offer their services elsewhere could be a lifesaver – for them and for many of the children held up in the system.


NO - Nushra Mansuri, professional officer, British Association of Social Workers

I would be cautious about applying this approach, as it is not simply a numbers game, but also about placing children appropriately – any changes need to be based on the best interests of children.

This could be driven by financial imperatives by agencies keen to increase their profits, so we always need to be mindful of perverse incentives. However, the real issue surely is the national shortage of foster carers, and what we could be doing to increase the current supply.

The government could put as much effort into this as it appears to be exerting over adoption policy and practice. Foster carers are an invaluable resource, and we need to work hard to retain the ones that we have, as well as encourage more people to come forward to look after children.


NO - Harvey Gallagher, chief executive, Nationwide Association of Fostering Providers

The relationship between the foster carer and the fostering agency is essential to the success of a placement. It works best when carers and agencies are a good match for each other.

It would be difficult for multiple agencies to co-ordinate placing children with one carer, while making assessments of the family and ensuring as good a match as possible for the child.

The role of the supervising social worker involves not just ensuring the best for the child, but supporting the carer, too. For example, how could they prevent foster carer burnout?

NO - Kevin Williams, chief executive, Tact

Registering with more than one agency will not increase the number of desperately needed foster carers and will add to confusion for existing carers.

Carers require support, training and remuneration to do this complex job. Support from a supervising social worker is essential and this needs to be based on a trusting professional relationship. Multiple registrations would lead to multiple supervisors with the potential for mixed messages and a duplication of resources.

There already exist a number of protocols for local authorities to share resources.

Single agency registration also means new or additional placements are matched not only to the carer’s abilities, but also with other children in mind.