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The UK government has announced plans to significantly expand foster care capacity in England, with a target of creating up to 10,000 additional foster placements during the current Parliament. The proposals, led by the Department for Education (DfE), form part of a broader strategy to reform children’s social care and address ongoing shortages of foster carers.
The government has identified declining foster carer numbers as a critical issue. Approved foster carer numbers have fallen by nearly 12% over the past decade, with recruitment challenges intensifying following the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, the number of children entering the care system has increased, placing additional strain on local authorities.
In response, the DfE intends to introduce a national recruitment campaign alongside regulatory reform designed to broaden eligibility criteria for prospective foster carers. Proposed changes aim to clarify that fostering is accessible to a wider range of applicants, including individuals who are unmarried, working full time, or who do not own their homes.
The reform package also proposes the introduction of national recruitment targets, a revised regulatory framework, and the development of flexible or part-time fostering models.
The government has committed £88 million in funding to support foster carers and frontline services. This funding is intended to enhance support structures for existing carers, including access to peer support networks, clearer guidance regarding available assistance, and financial support for home modifications where required to accommodate foster placements.
An additional £25 million has been earmarked to support innovative fostering models and expand fostering capacity through practical measures designed to enable carers to support larger or sibling groups.
The DfE has emphasised that foster placement shortages frequently result in children being placed outside their local communities or entering residential care settings. Government data and sector reports indicate that children in residential care often face poorer long-term outcomes, including lower educational attainment and increased health and safeguarding risks.
Financial considerations also underpin the reform proposals. Residential care placements represent a significant cost to local authorities, with total expenditure estimated at £4.7 billion for the 2022–2023 period, substantially exceeding the costs associated with foster placements.
The government’s fostering action plan outlines six priority areas:
Regulatory simplification: Introduction of a national fostering rulebook intended to reduce administrative burden and support stable placements.
Improved information and accessibility: Development of national digital tools to support prospective foster carers and streamline application processes.
Regional collaboration: Expansion of regional fostering hubs to improve coordination of recruitment, training, and placement decisions.
Capacity expansion: Measures to increase the number of foster homes and enable existing carers to support additional children.
Modernisation of fostering models: Exploration of more flexible approaches reflecting contemporary family and employment structures.
Enhanced carer support: Strengthened financial and professional support networks to improve foster carer retention.
Sector organisations have broadly welcomed the proposals, noting the sustained pressure on fostering capacity and the need to improve recruitment and retention. Stakeholders have also emphasised the importance of ensuring that increased recruitment is matched by appropriate training, assessment, and ongoing support to maintain placement quality and stability.
The DfE has launched a national consultation to gather feedback from local authorities, independent fostering agencies, and sector professionals. The consultation forms part of a wider programme of children’s social care reform intended to streamline recruitment processes, improve consistency across regions, and enhance support for foster families.
The proposals are likely to have operational and legal implications for professionals working within children’s services, fostering agencies, and family law. Potential impacts include evolving regulatory standards, changes to assessment and approval processes for foster carers, and increased inter-agency collaboration at a regional level.
Professionals involved in care proceedings, placement planning, and permanence planning may also see changes in placement availability and service provision as reforms are implemented.
The consultation period provides an opportunity for practitioners and organisations to contribute to the development of revised fostering standards and regulatory frameworks, which are expected to shape the future delivery of foster care services across England.
