MPs’ action call on foster care
THE shadow minister for children paid the city a visit as Labour calls for urgent action to tackle what it calls a looming crisis in foster care.
Portsmouth foster carers met MP Helen Hayes as she came to the city to see the Fostering Network’s Mockingbird service in action.
Working to bring foster families together to support each other, the Mockingbird service was highlighted as an exampleofgoodpracticeinthe recently published Independent Review of Children’s Social Care.
The MP praised the team’s work as a brilliant example of how we must support and value foster families caring for some of our most vulnerable children.
However, Labour says that data shows the number of foster carers in the south east declined by 310 last year, as the number of carers deregisteringisincreasingfasterthanthe number of new families.
According to the data, the number of looked after children continues to grow, increasing26percentinPortsmouthsince2012,witha21per cent increase nationwide.
This is rapidly outpacing the number of new foster homes which has increased just six per cent since 2012.
Ms Hayes said: ‘Foster families are crucial to ensuring every child has a stable, loving home, but across the country services are at breaking point after a decade of Conservative neglect.
‘Too often bureaucracy puts off potential foster carers whilst a lack of support means many families are choosing to deregister.
‘The Mockingbird service is a really effective example of ways in which additional support can be provided to foster families to help them sustain their vital work.
‘Labour in government transformed support for children and families, ensuring all young people were supported to thrive.
‘It’s time the Conservatives match our ambition for every child.’
Stephen Morgan, Portsmouth South MP and Shadow Schools Minister, agreed that the current Conservative government has ‘created a crisis in foster care’, but praised the work of local carers: ‘The Mockingbird service in Portsmouthoffersoutstandingsupporttobothchildrenandfoster families,facilitatingstableand loving homes across our city.’
On Friday Mr Morgan met a range of local care providers tothankthemfortheirefforts.