Letter: Children in care
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Your leading article (20 November) rightly identifies the importance of a move towards uniform standards in child care services as the best bulwark against future failures.
For foster care services, which now provide care for two-thirds of all children looked after by local authorities, that move is already under way. The Department of Health and the Scottish Office have recently agreed funding for an 18-month initiative to define and promote national standards for foster care, to ensure consistency of care for children, whichever local authority is responsible for their safety and development,
The UK Joint Working Party on Foster Care brings together, for the first time at a national level, directors of social services and family placement practitioners, foster carers, researchers and representatives of the social services inspectorates, local government associations and voluntary organisations.
If this work can be combined with the regulation and inspection of all foster care agencies as recommended in the Utting Report, it should go a long way towards ensuring a high standard of care for some of our most vulnerable and disadvantaged children.
PAT VERITY
Policy and Service Manager
National Foster Care Association
London SE1
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments