8. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on plans to deliver a sustainable fostering service in Wales? (OAQ51010)

Thank you for a very important question. We recognise the vital role foster carers in Wales play in looking after children in care. As part of our Improving Outcomes for Children programme, we are working with partners to deliver a fostering in Wales network.

Thank you for that answer. Further to that, you will be aware that Action for Children has recently claimed that foster care in Wales is in crisis. Figures show that 88 per cent of adults say that they are unlikely to ever consider fostering a child or young adult. So, I would ask: what further action is the Welsh Government planning in order to increase the numbers of foster carers, and do you agree that we need to move to an all-Wales standard, such as in terms of foster carer payments, with a view to reducing competition between providers and geographic areas of Wales?

I’ve got a working group looking at this. As well as the fostering in Wales framework, our work around promoting stable placements includes a review of special guardianship orders, investment in a new model of adoption support through the National Adoption Service, and a task and finish group on children’s residential care. I think this is one of the areas that I don’t think should be political in any way, where we have the interests of young people at heart. If the Member has any positive contributions to make, I would be very happy to receive them and feed them into the working group as we move forward.

It’s not just the service that’s in crisis; some of the foster carers and the children that they care for are in crisis. Cabinet Secretary, what assurances can you give us that looked-after children will be able to access emergency support services, such as child and adolescent mental health services, if they are placed in foster placements that are outside the local authority that is responsible for their care order? I have a number of very unfortunate cases that bear witness that this is not happening, and I think we absolutely must change it.

I would urge the Member to write to me specifically with those cases. I will take them up personally to ensure that we look at them with detailed analysis. Look, these young people who find themselves in a fostering placement or childcare setting are extremely vulnerable, and we should be doing more than what we do currently to make sure that these young people are safe and have resilience moving forward. I would welcome the Member’s letter when I receive that.