Dundee East Labour
25 July 2019
A report from the Care Inspectorate has revealed that the number of children coming into foster care in 2018 exceeded the number of new foster carers in 30 of the 32 local authority services.
This is the highest incidence of this situation between 2015 and 2018.
Scottish Labour has warned that these figures are the latest sign of the challenge of recruiting sufficient numbers of foster carers, and called for further action to be taken.
Scottish Labour Education Spokesperson Iain Gray MSP said:
“It’s concerning that the number of children coming into foster care exceeded the number of new foster carers last year.
“Whilst the Independent Care Review is doing vital work to improve the experience of looked after children in Scotland, the children who are continuing to enter care need help now.
“Local authorities need sufficient resources to recruit and retain enough foster carers, to provide the loving and supportive environments that looked after young people need to thrive.
“The Scottish Government must take bolder and faster action to ensure that children and young people in care are receiving the support they need.”
A report from the Care Inspectorate has revealed that the number of children coming into foster care in 2018 exceeded the number of new foster carers in 30 of the 32 local authority services.
This is the highest incidence of this situation between 2015 and 2018.
Scottish Labour has warned that these figures are the latest sign of the challenge of recruiting sufficient numbers of foster carers, and called for further action to be taken.
Scottish Labour Education Spokesperson Iain Gray MSP said:
“It’s concerning that the number of children coming into foster care exceeded the number of new foster carers last year.
“Whilst the Independent Care Review is doing vital work to improve the experience of looked after children in Scotland, the children who are continuing to enter care need help now.
“Local authorities need sufficient resources to recruit and retain enough foster carers, to provide the loving and supportive environments that looked after young people need to thrive.
“The Scottish Government must take bolder and faster action to ensure that children and young people in care are receiving the support they need.”