Written question WQ98892

Foster Wales, established in 2021, brings together all 22 local authority fostering services into a single national network, supported by over £12 million of Welsh Government investment. Its aim is to strengthen recruitment and, crucially, retention by providing a consistent, high-quality offer to foster carers across Wales, including in rural areas where smaller carer pools make retention particularly important for local placement sufficiency.

This aligns with national priorities to improve placement stability and enable more children to remain within their communities. The Foster Wales National Commitment supports this by ensuring carers receive equitable support, learning and rewards wherever they live, reducing variation across regions.

Alongside this, work is underway to review fostering allowances, so they better reflect the true cost of care, helping ensure fostering remains sustainable and valued across all parts of Wales. However, retention is not only about financial support. Foster carers must be recognised as integral members of the “team around the child,” with their experience valued in decision-making. Programmes such as Fostering Wellbeing support this by promoting stronger partnership working and equality of status.

Investment in training and support also plays a key role. A national learning and development framework provides consistent opportunities, while peer networks help reduce isolation and build resilience – particularly important in rural areas.

We are also supporting flexible approaches such as Step Up Step Down, which provides alternative roles for foster carers, helps retain experienced carers who may not wish to foster full time, and can encourage previous carers to return to the sector in a different capacity.

Supporting carers through challenges is equally critical. National training and the development of an all-Wales allegations’ toolkit aim to ensure fair, consistent processes that maintain carers’ confidence and wellbeing.

Together, these measures strengthen retention, support foster carers effectively, and improve placement stability, helping more children stay close to home.