recruitment and retention

Ensuring there are sufficient numbers of skilled and knowledgeable foster carers is one of the biggest challenges currently facing the fostering sector. This research explores what works to retain foster carers – ultimately so we are able to meet all the needs of children in care, both now and in the future. It also sought to develop a better understanding of the recruitment foster carers in England.

Project overview

The Foster Carer Retention Project aimed to support fostering services to:

• capture all of the reasons why foster carers leave their fostering service
• identify the optimum timings for processing exit interviews
• identify any themes as to the reasons why foster carers choose to leave
• create a robust process for future exit interviews

• embed learning to enhance retention and subsequent recruitment of foster carers.
   

Free resources

Needs analysis template

Created by the Department for Education and The Fostering Network, the needs analysis template is the starting point for all fostering services to inform a recruitment and retention strategy. 

Needs analysis template

Retention and recruitment of foster carers in England 2023 

Read our latest research report into retention and recruitment here. 

Benchmark reports

The Fostering Service Benchmark report 2015/16

England

Transfer of foster carers protocol England

Principles governing the transfer of foster carers

Recruitment is a year-round activity and fostering services need to recruit to replace foster carers who are leaving the service for many different reasons.

Foster care provides children with a safe, secure and nurturing family environment.