Recruiting the foster care workforce

of the future

Helen ClarkeJuly 2010

Importance of recruitment and retention of foster carers

Always supported fostering services.Lead developments and encourage innovation.Recruitment campaigns, good practice, advice and consultancy.Workshops and networking.

Foster Care Fortnight 2010Annual awareness campaignRecruit more foster familiesPublicise in national, regional and local press– Over 450 print articles inc. online– At least 50 radio and TV shows– Two-thirds of LAs gained media

coverage

Majority of fostering services get involvedIncrease in enquiries

Finding who will foster

Two-thirds are aged over 50.Two out of five aren’t happy.1,000s of people enquire.1 in 10 get approved.Six out of 10 don’t meet 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.

Spreading the word

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.

Sign up for updates

helen.clarke@fostering.net020 7620 6407