Scotland’s fostering and adoption services generally operate at a high level of care, but more foster families are needed to support children in care.
A report published today by the Care Inspectorate, Scotland’s social care scrutiny and improvement body, shows that the quality of fostering and adoption services across Scotland is high, with 95% of fostering services and 97% of adoption services rated as good or better by inspectors.
The report also found that 78% of councils reported instances where the number of children requiring a foster care placement was greater than the placements available.
The Care Inspectorate report suggests that experiences for sibling groups taken into care need be improved, with 211 sibling groups (20%) split up on finding a placement. Nearly 60% of local authorities reported difficulties in placing sibling groups.
Karen Reid, chief executive of the Care Inspectorate said: “The Care Inspectorate's job is to work closely with local authorities and independent organisations who provide adoption and fostering services.
“These services play a vital role in assessing, approving and supporting carers and prospective adoptive parents in caring for some of our most vulnerable children.
“From our inspections we know that the vast majority of these services perform very well. By highlighting good practice and identifying areas which can improve, we help ensure that all children can get the best possible start in life.
“We also know that more high quality fostering and adoption places are needed for vulnerable children, and that too many children are separated from their siblings when a place is found for them.
"It is important that children in care are supported to form permanent and loving relationships as quickly as possible, and an important part of this is almost always maintaining the strong bond between siblings. “Sisters and brothers are often a great support and comfort at times of crisis, especially for young children.
“We hope this data is of use in supporting how adoption and fostering services are planned and delivered, and to the Independent Care Review whose on-going work I strongly welcome.”
The report is here: Fostering and adoption 2016-17 statistical bulletin
- All data is taken from December 2016 and published for the first time today.
- At 31 December 2016, there were 59 registered foster care services, with 32 run by local authorities and 27 by independent services.
- There were 4,011 approved foster carer households and a total of 5,435 children in a foster care placement, of which 28% were permanent placements.
- There were 209 children in foster care at this point in time who were waiting for a permanent placement.