Fostering matters

Abstract

The views of stakeholders are increasingly seen as important to the delivery of services. The perspectives of foster carers therefore, can contribute to the organisation, management and provision of placements to children who are looked after by the local authority. This paper refl ects the views of Foluke, a member of the symposium 'Fostering Matters' which took place at the University of Salford in March 2007. Foluke is not only an experienced foster carer and trainer of foster carers, but also an experienced social worker with current responsibility for educating social work practitioners. There is no suggestion that the views expressed in this paper represent the 'truth' of being a foster carer. On the contrary, it is appreciated that the opinions of foster carers will vary in relation to their social characteristics (such as class, gender, 'race' or ethnicity), their personal biographies and the context in which their opinions are elicited. Nevertheless, this paper contains important refl ections on a main theme of the symposium - the professionalisation of foster care. Furthermore, comments on the quality of practice in relation to assessment and training may be of value to those responsible for the continued improvement in standards.