Issue - meetings

To receive a report on performance of the service over the last 12 months and details of key service improvements in place.

The Committee considered the annual performance report on the fostering service setting out the structure, aims and duties of the service as well as performance data from the last twelve months.

The Committee expressed concern over the relatively low number of foster carers recruited from the last publicity campaign. It was confirmed that although the campaign was on course to meet its target for the recruitment of 47 new carers over a three year period, the number of current carers deregistering remained of continuing concern and it was agreed that the Council needed to be more ambitious with regards to recruitment. The Committee discussed the inherent difficulties in trying to achieve a balance between not discouraging prospective carers but also being upfront about the strict eligibility criteria in place related to the needs of the child such as restrictions in most instances on carers being in full time work.  

It was advised that in an effort to retain focus on increasing recruitment, the proposed restructure of the service would facilitate this through reconfiguring the service into two teams to provide separation between the two distinct functions of the service: the recruitment and assessment of carers and supporting foster carers. It was agreed that the Committee would receive an update report on the restructure and new arrangements in six months time.

The Committee suggested a number of other avenues that could be explored by officers to increase recruitment of carers including promotion at Area Committees, the opportunity for a more targeted approach aimed at the Turkish community and the feasibility of including fostering information in the annual Council Tax leaflet sent to borough residents. The Committee also discussed the approach to promoting the financial support provided to foster careers, particularly in recognition of the current economic climate. It was advised that the communications team had undertaken detailed focus group research for the last recruitment campaign including the financial inducements for fostering. In consideration of the findings of this exercise, it had been determined to provide details of the financial support available within the fostering adoption leaflet sent out to prospective carers but not on wider publicity material such as posters.