With this in mind, we are asking everybody with an interest in foster care to promote The Fostering Network’s foster carers’ charter to any prospective councillors they meet.  Having a charter in place helps foster carers get the recognition they deserve and need to provide children with the best possible care.

These headlines from our sample charter show what a strong and collaborative fostering service looks like. Challenge your local politicians to commit to a fostering service that can offer foster carers:

• working in equal partnership
• to be seen as a valued member of the team around the child
• information
• clarity about decisions
• support to increase foster carer confidence and resilience
• ongoing learning and development
• fair treatment
• communication and consultation.

The Fostering Network has sent copies of the charter to all local authorities in England and Scotland. For more information about how we want to improve foster care please take a look at our manifesto, and to download our sample charter please visit www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/charter.