Councils form regional fostering partnership

The Department of Education is funding the partnership

Councils from across the South East have joined forces to form the largest local authority fostering partnership in the country.

Local Authority Fostering South East (LAFSE) said there was an urgent need to recruit more foster carers.

About 11,000 children are in care across the region but it has about 3,000 local authority-approved foster carers.

The Department for Education-funded project is part of a national plan.

Prospective foster carers will be able to take part in a fostering ambassador scheme, in which they can meet an existing carer to quiz them on what being one is like.

LAFSE said giving a home for a child close to where they are from "helps them retain some sense of consistency" and "minimises disruption".

The authorities taking part are:

• Achieving for Children (running services for the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead)

• Bracknell Forest Council

• Brighton and Hove City Council

• East Sussex County Council

• Hampshire County Council

• Isle of Wight Council

• Kent County Council

• Medway Council

• Milton Keynes City Council

• Oxfordshire County Council

• Portsmouth City Council

• Reading Borough Council

• Slough Borough Council

• Southampton City Council

• Surrey County Council

• West Berkshire Council

• West Sussex County Council

• Wokingham Borough Council

Natasha Sampson, regional strategic lead, said: “The new hub will make this possible by increasing the number of local foster carers and making sure they are well supported through their recruitment journey and beyond.

“I would urge anyone interested in fostering to get in touch with us to find out more about becoming a foster carer with your local authority.”