Over half of care leavers ‘staying put’ with their foster carers

Applications to be foster carers have fallen by a third

Ofsted has published fostering in England statistics for the period 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016.

The release covers:

the numbers and profile of foster carers and foster places and placements, in both local authority and independent fostering agencies
data relating to types of foster care, registrations, de-registrations, to fostered children, and a range of other subjects
the period between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2016.

The statistics show that:

There were 44,320 approved fostering households as at 31 March 2016, less than a 1% fall from the previous year (44,625). There were 51,805 children and young people in placement on 31 March 2016, the same as last year's figure.
Although the number of care leavers went up 17% to 4,025, the number who stayed living with their former foster carers increased by a higher rate (22%) to 2,190 ie 54 per cent of care leavers).
The reported number of applications to be foster carers fell by one third. There were 11,460 applications in 2015 to 2016, compared to 16,920 the previous year.
There has been a 13% increase in the number of approved family and friends households from 4,145 on 31 March 2015 to 4,665 in 2016.
Of the 3,055 children who went missing, 46% did not have a Return Home Interview (1,405).
Of the children who experienced at least one unplanned ending, 12% also experienced an education placement change, compared to 4% of those who had no unplanned endings.

To access the statistics, click here.

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