Children suffer because of County Council delay

12.00.00am GMT Thu 19th Jan 2006

Addressing the Conservative County Council Cabinet on Tuesday, Liberal Democrat Councillor Jean Fooks said that key recommendations from a Review on improving foster care in Oxfordshire had been watered down and not implemented for four months.

Earlier implementation would have provided more foster carers, so that more children in need of fostering could be placed near their homes and families - better for the children and cheaper than using independent agencies.

The Review also recommended better support for foster carers. Jean added, "It is essential that our excellent foster carers are given more support and where possible higher remuneration for greater experience. This is the least we can do to fulfil our responsibilities as corporate parents for the children in our care. I am glad that Cabinet on Jan 17th seemed to accept the need for this extra support. I hope to now see action and the extra resources needed."

Note for editors:

Scrutiny Review on stability of Foster Care Placements, presented to Cabinet in July and its recommendations largely accepted, recommended various ways to improve recruitment and retention of foster carers, to ensure a range of provision is available when needed. As agency and out-of-county placements are so expensive, the investment in extra resources would have been recouped in lower costs very soon. People taking on some very disturbed teenagers in particular need more support and do a tremendous job in providing a good home; their experience and skills should be recognised.

The recent Children's Services Inspection which rated Oxfordshire as 'serving some children well' identified a shortfall in the availability of suitable foster carers as a key area for improvement.