Recruiting the foster care workforce of the future Helen Clarke June 2010

Foster carers ‘If we haven’t got foster carers – nothing else works’ service manager

Importance of recruitment and retention of foster carers Always supported fostering services. Lead developments and encourage innovation. Recruitment campaigns, good practice and advice. Workshops and networking.

Finding who will foster Two-thirds are aged over 50. Two out of five aren’t happy. 1,000s of people enquire. Six out of 10 fostering service aren’t meeting their recruitment targets.

What puts people off? The image of foster care. Myths about fostering. Status, pay and support.

Recruiting the Foster Care Workforce of the Future Why choose a career in fostering? The recruitment team The recruitment strategy – getting it right Finding the people who could foster Promoting foster care Managing interest and encouraging enquiries Approving new fostering households

Meeting the challenge Resources – spend millions across the UK, staff shortages, everyone’s responsibility. Time. Energy – ongoing – can be hard to increase. Spreading the word – we know who we have (profiling). Getting it right – be strategic, clear tasks and plan, effective systems. Budget cuts. Competition. Tried and tested – word of mouth, working with the media, online, advertising, direct marketing, community links and outreach. Finding the wrong people – conversion rates.

What do we do?

What do we do? Support our organisational members Advice and consultancy Projects and reports Sharing good practice – Attracting and Keeping Carers. Raise public awareness of fostering Foster Care Fortnight . Lobby and campaign for change.

What next?