Foster carer numbers in Wales need to increase, say local councils

There is a massive need for more foster carers in Wales, say local authority foster services.

Foster Wales, the network representing fostering teams, said there were more than 7,000 children in the care system, but only 3,800 foster families.

The group said it wanted to tackle "misconceptions" to reach a target of recruiting 800 foster households over the next two years.

The Welsh government said it was committed to increasing the number.

Emma and Joanna Johnston from Cross Hands, Carmarthenshire, started fostering last January.

Joanna has older children from a previous relationship and the couple knew they wanted a family together.

"I moved down to Wales from England to be with Jo around six years ago, and I'd always wanted children in some capacity," said Emma.

"Jo has her own biological children who've grown up and fostering was the natural thing for us to do.

"It's something that I've always wanted to do. I didn't necessarily want biological children of my own and I wanted to help children who were in need."

Emma and Jo, who are both teachers, said the experience could be challenging but "hugely rewarding."

Jo said: "You do worry if the child is going to settle. But you're so keen to help them.

"We've been on loads of different adventures in the fresh air, to see what she likes. It was so great to see her enjoying and showing her parts of Wales she hadn't seen before.

"She's integrated into the family really well."

Jo said they wanted to give back to children who needed support.

"We've worked in different roles with children and young people for the past 20 years, and we wanted to give back to children who needed help and support. We want to try and help those children overcome what they've been through in the past."

The couple have both gone part-time in their work, but said every situation was different.

Emma said: "There isn't a set plan that works for everyone, it depends on your own circumstances and the children that are placed with you.

"It's more than possible to work full-time but it depends on the individual circumstances."

Figures from Foster Wales showed 53% of young people in care were aged 11 or over.

The organisation said it wanted to encourage people to consider fostering a teenager.

Jo and Emma have fostered a 12-year-old girl and Jo said there were "so many misconceptions that need to be addressed".

"You can help them by talking to them about how they're feeling," Jo said.

"You can do things together and find common hobbies, whereas with a younger child you might not be able to do those things."

Foster Wales agreed there were key "misconceptions" stopping potential carers from wanting to foster, including a lack of confidence and ability to support a child in care, the belief that fostering does not fit with certain lifestyles and the misconceptions around the criteria to become a carer.

The head of the Foster Wales network, Alastair Cope, said everybody could bring something to the table through local authority fostering, adding: "I think it's about providing that love and that stability in the interim."

He said the key aspects were providing love and a "stable home life" before they may go back to live with birth families or move on to a longer-term foster family.

Mr Cope said a change in Welsh government policy meant there was a need to increase the number of people registered as local authority foster carers.

"There are agencies that operate on a profit-making basis out there at the moment," he said.

"Welsh government have committed to by 2027, removing profit from anything around children's services, and obviously that includes fostering."

Mr Cope said by that point there needed to be more foster carers able to accept children.

A Welsh government spokesperson said: "We are committed to increasing the number of foster carers in Wales.

"We are working closely with our national fostering scheme, Foster Wales, to help local authorities ensure that there is a readily available supply of dedicated, trained, diverse and well-supported foster carers who can provide a stable and caring family environment locally for our children and young people."