Family Law News

The National Audit Office have stated that the system for supporting young people when they leave care is not working effectively.

Despite a system and a legal framework being in place and an inspection unit, the number of care leavers obtaining employment, education and training has fallen significantly since 2007. According to the National Audit Office report, states that in 2013-14, over 10,000 young people aged over 16 left care, a significant increase of almost 50% since 2003-04. Furthermore, the report found that 33% of those aged 16 or over who left care did so before they turned 18.

A fostering charity is calling on people across England to think about whether they could become foster carers.

New figures from the Fostering Network show that at least 9,000 new foster families are needed across the UK during 2013 to look after the record numbers of children in care who need to be fostered.

The Fostering  Network has claimed that the current care system places too much emphasis on avoiding risk, and as a result is preventing foster carers from helping children in their care to have a full experience of family life.

A child comes into care and needs a foster family every 22 minutes across the UK, new figures from the Fostering Network have revealed.

Family and friends carers, who are raising some of the nation’s most vulnerable children, are being left to fend for themselves and suffer significant levels of hardship as local authorities fail to implement central government policy, according to new research from advice charity Family Rights Group.

Robert Tapsfield, chief executive of the Fostering Network, has commented on the Government's recently announced adoption action plan.