Foster Carers in Flintshire County Council welcome plan to phase profit out of children’s care

This Care Day (21 February), Foster Wales Flintshire is joining Wales’ fostering community in highlighting the benefits of local authority care as the Welsh Government’s landmark Health and Social Care Bill begins the process of removing profit from the children’s care system.

Wales is the first country in the UK to legislate to remove profit from both residential and foster care for children.

Foster Wales’ Staying local campaign, led by care experienced people and local authority foster carers, aims to show how the policy will support young people in care to stay connected to their local area, community, friends, and school.

Last year, 85 per cent of young people with local authority foster carers remained in their area. However, only 31 percent of young people cared for by commercial fostering agencies stayed local, with 7 percent being moved outside of Wales entirely.

Sue, from Flintshire, has been fostering with her local authority, Foster Wales Flintshire, for 5 years. She believes that keeping children local is a priority and is why she fosters with her local authority.  

She said:

“We have been fostering with our local authority for a number of years and keeping children who can’t be with their families local is very important to them, and to us as foster carers.

“Keeping our foster children local to their friends, school and siblings ensures that they retain identity within the community. They have already experienced so much loss and upheaval in their lives so keeping them local to everything they are familiar with, like local parks and landmarks, helps them keep a sense of belonging. 

“Staying local means there is no long travel time to see friends and to stay in touch with their siblings. It means they can also stay in the same school and within the same group of friends they already know and enjoy.

“My Social Worker is my support and rock. The team at Foster Wales Flintshire are always approachable and helpful, whenever I need them. 

“We enjoy fostering with our local authority, it’s rewarding, inspiring and keeps us on our toes!” 

In Wales, there are more than 7,000 children in the care system, but only 3,800 foster families -83 of them here in Flintshire, but more than 260 children in the care system. Foster Wales has set out with the bold aim of recruiting over 800 new foster families by 2026 to provide welcoming homes for local children and young people. 

Children’s Services Manager at Flintshire County Council, Sarah Grant, added: 

“Local authorities such as Foster Wales Flintshire operate on a non-profit basis, which means that every pound spent is directed entirely towards the well-being of children and young people in our community. 

“A key part of this mission is helping them remain in their local area, where they can stay close to family members, attend the same school, and maintain friendships that protect their identity.

“Foster Wales Flintshire is dedicated to ensuring that the children who live with foster carers receive the same level of care, stability and opportunities that we would want for our own children. We strive to create an environment where these young individuals can thrive and grow, demonstrating our commitment to their well-being and development.

“To anyone thinking about fostering and feels passionate about keeping a child local, please get in touch with the Foster Wales Flintshire team.”

For more information about fostering, or to make an enquiry, visit:

https://www.fosterwales.flintshire.gov.uk/