180 extra foster carers needed in the region

North Wales needs another 180 foster families to meet growing demand, councillors have been told.
Foster carers offer security, stability, and support at a crucial time in a child’s development, often providing their first experience of a positive family life.
An update report on the North Wales region of the National Fostering Framework – set up by the Welsh Government to allow greater collaboration –noted that 1,250 children or young people are currently being looked after by north Wales authorities, with 853 of those in foster care.
In many instances, however, due to a lack of council registered foster parents, authorities are forced to place children with private carers via outside agencies, which often results in councils paying a premium due to not having enough of their own to meet the demand.
The report noted that the number of children placed with independent providers has increased from 179 in in 2018 to 213 in March 2019.
But to fend off competition from  independent providers, the meeting held in Caernarfon on Thursday saw confirmation that authorities across the region are working to counter this by providing fostering friendly policies and some council tax reductions.
Such measures have already been taken by some authorities, including Anglesey, where the benefits now on offer include increasing the foster allowance by 10%, providing a 50% discount in council tax, a free leisure services membership card and council car parking pass.
Aled Gibbard, Gwynedd’s Service Manager for Children and Families, informed Care Scrutiny Committee members of the situation facing the county over the coming years.
“We need to increase (the number of our foster carers) by 30, perhaps 10 a year, to what we have been doing,” he said.
“Yes, this in itself is ambitious but I feel we have to set that ambition as that is the need that’s facing us.
“Whatever is the national or regional framework, it is up to us in Gwynedd to decipher what it means for us and what work programmes we need to implement.”
He went on to say that while private fostering agencies had a role to fulfil, they were also “challenging” to authorities such as Gwynedd.
“By attracting foster carers, out recruitment and marketing has to be spot on.
“They have the advantage of some national companies that can invest much more than us in those fields, so we acknowledge a need to improve recruitment so that we can compete.”
The report concluded, “It is anticipated that 180 general foster carers will need to be approved over the next three years to meet the current placement gap and to offset the projected loss of general foster carers.
The current expenditure on independent provider placements is a significant consideration; authorities are working on reducing loss of foster carers e.g. providing a core offer such as Fostering Friendly policies and Council Tax Reduction / Exemption.”

By Gareth Williams – Local Democracy Reporter