The Fostering Network is today launching its revamped foster carers’ charter and is calling on every fostering service to implement a charter during 2019.

The foster carers’ charter represents a commitment on behalf of the placing authority in their role as the corporate parent, the fostering service and the foster carer to work in partnership in the best interests of the children for whom they care. It is a promise, with rights and responsibilities for all parties, to strive for best practice at all times.

The revamped charter has been updated in consultation with a number of organisations including the Department for Education, ADCS, CoramBAAF, FosterTalk, NAFP and TACT.

Kevin Williams, chief executive of The Fostering Network, said: ‘We believe that, if implemented properly by every fostering service, the charter could make significant inroads into improving the practice issues that our recent State of the Nation’s Foster Care survey highlighted – especially in regards to foster carers being better supported financially and practically and more respected and valued as a key member of the team.

‘I would urge every fostering service to work with all those involved to introduce and implement a charter in 2019 – it will be an important step to making foster care the very best it can be for children and young people and the foster families caring for them.'

Westminster Children and Families Minister Nadhim Zahawi said: 'Fostering provides a lifeline to thousands of children around the country, and without dedicated foster families some of the most vulnerable children around the country would be left without the support they need. That is why the Foster Carers’ Charter is so important, providing a clear ambition the sector can get behind and giving foster families the recognition they deserve. 

'Last year we committed to improving the support available to foster families, including making sure they felt empowered to make the decisions necessary to support their foster children and to make sure they have access to all the formal and informal support they need. We have been and will continue to work with the sector, including The Fostering Network, on all of the measures we announced to give young people the best chances to succeed.'