Supporting a change to not-for-profit models of care for looked after children in Wales

All foster carers have to be approved by a registered fostering service. This may be a local authority internal service or an independent fostering agency.

In 2022, Welsh Government made a commitment to remove private profit from children’s services by 2027. Since this time, independent fostering agencies (IFA), private and not-for-profit, have worked closely with Welsh Government and local authorities in a continued effort to achieve this without disrupting any children and young people currently living in fostering families. IFAs, local authorities and Welsh Government are committed to prioritising the best interests of children.

Of the 4,915 children in foster care in Wales*, 1,595 live with relatives or friends (32%), 2,040 live with local authority foster carers (42%) and 1,275 live with IFA foster carers (26%). It is crucial these foster care arrangements are maintained and that IFAs continue to work closely with Welsh local authorities when they ask for assistance in identifying foster care for a vulnerable child.

The Nationwide Association of Fostering Providers (NAFP) are members of Welsh Government’s programme board responsible for the change to not-for-profit models of care. NAFP has worked closely with Welsh Government and representatives of the 22 local authorities on behalf of IFAs on this programme. The detail about how to achieve the political intent without disrupting the lives of children and fostering families is being considered by working groups of providers and local authorities. The priorities for all involved have been:

• To ensure stability for all child and young people
• To ensure stability for fostering households
• To ensure provision of available fostering families to Welsh local authorities

All IFAs are working to adjust their services in line with Welsh Government policy so they can continue to provide the excellent care for children they have always offered. It is our view that IFA foster carers will not need to transfer to a local authority or another IFA, the priority is to support them to continue to foster for their current IFA. All foster carers will continue to be approved by their current service to maintain stability with:

• Their supervising social worker
• Their children’s support worker
• Their training team
• Their carer support group

If approached directly by local authorities to discuss a transfer, the foster carer  should always discuss this with their IFA before entering into any discussion to ensure they are protected and supported. It is important that IFA foster carers know that they do not have to transfer.

The programme to remove profit is unhelpfully called ‘Eliminate’ but we need to be clear that this is about eliminating profit, not about eliminating IFAs.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please do speak with your IFA so that they can reassure you of their plans to continue to offer you and the children living with you the support that you need.

* Children looked after in foster placements at 31 March by local authority and placement type