Minister committed to increasing support for foster carers

Northern Ireland is continuing to forge ahead with schemes to support foster carers and the children they care for, Social Services Minister, Michael McGimpsey said today.

Speaking after an Assembly debate on fostering, the Minister said he was disappointed that the full facts about the significant investment in support for foster carers had not been properly outlined.

He continued: “Foster carers provide an invaluable service to some of the most vulnerable children and young people in our society.  They must be supported and that is exactly what I am doing.  Between March 2006 and September 2009 the actual number of foster carers in Northern Ireland increased from 1,528 to 1,910, an increase of 382.  Indeed, we are gaining far more foster carers than we are losing.

“It is also concerning to hear such an ageist approach to foster carers.  The facts are that the vast majority of foster carers are in their 40s and 50s and about 15% are aged 60 or older. Many people wait until they have had a family before they start considering fostering as an option. The skills and experience they have gained are vitally important when looking after a vulnerable child.

“While it is important to monitor the age profile of our foster carers, it is entirely appropriate for some of our foster carers to be aged over 60.  A significant part of our efforts have been aimed at recruiting extended families of children in care to foster them.  Many of these family foster carers will be grandparents which means the experience for children is much more positive.”

Around £6m has been invested in foster care over the past three years, which is now recurrent. The Minister continued:

“Unlike the rest of the UK, my department funds children to stay with their foster carers until they are aged 21 or older if they are in  education.  Nearly 200 young people aged mainly 18-21 are now availing of this opportunity.  

“As well as offering extra support and funding to help  children in care to improve their education and employment prospects, we are also ensuring foster carers are helped in their role.  Under our 2007 Care Matters strategy, we are again moving ahead of the rest of the UK to give foster carers more autonomy over day to day decision making for children in care.

“This will mean many foster carers having the ability to agree day to day issues such as children taking part in school trips through to agreeing to basic medical treatment without referring to a social worker. Other parts of the UK are now following our lead.”

There is a wide range of support available for foster carers through a wide range of schemes and intitiatives.  

The Minister continued: “Additional investment in foster carer has allowed us to increase their Allowances to the recommended national rates.  We have also set up a Regional Fostering Recruitment and Training Co-Ordination Service in 2007 which helps Trust with the recruitment and training of foster carers.

“One of our most successful schemes is the “Fostering Achievement” scheme, which is delivered through the Fostering Network. My Department provides £1.25m annually to the scheme which has delivered many benefits to foster carers and children in care including: more than 800 computers installed in foster homes; 400 education support packs to foster carers; and tuition for hundreds of children.”

In Northern Ireland, services to families and children have been under-resourced by some 30% compared to other parts of the UK. At the same time, demand is growing and over the past five years the numbers of children referred to social services has increased by 24%.

Concluding the Minister said: “If we as a society are serious about improving services to our vulnerable children, decisions must be taken to prioritise and invest in them.   

“The reality is that we are dealing with many more children and young people in care who have high levels of need.  We must concentrate our efforts on seeing through the many and varied steps we are already taking and which are working.   Our children in care deserve nothing less and we owe them the same opportunities and chances in life as everyone else.”  

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. The Minister’s speech is available at: www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/fcd081209.pdf

Press enquiries to the DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0579. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.