Lewisham Council is intensifying its efforts to recruit more foster carers, aiming to reduce reliance on costly external agencies and residential care. The initiative, endorsed by the Mayor and Cabinet, seeks a whole-Council approach to bolster the foster carer offer, with the potential to release up to £6 million back into the Council's budget by halving the use of residential children's homes.

Steve Chaplin, who presented the proposal to the Health and Wellbeing Board, highlighted the urgent need to increase the number of in-house foster carers. He noted that Lewisham's current reliance on residential use and independent fostering agencies is increasing, impacting cost, stability, and the ability to keep children local. Residential placements can exceed £300,000 per child per year, with high costs not linked to better outcomes.

Bar chart showing the number of pupils with SEN support and EHCP for various learning and health needs in Lewisham, 2023/24.
Bar chart showing the number of pupils with SEN support and EHCP for various learning and health needs in Lewisham, 2023/24.

To address the urgent challenges facing Lewisham's foster carer recruitment and retention, the council is exploring enhanced remuneration and incentive packages, including council tax relief. The Cabinet has agreed to support the exploration of these enhanced packages, aiming to improve both recruitment and retention.

Councillor Aliya Sheikh emphasized the importance of promoting fostering within diverse cultural groups, respecting religious beliefs, and ensuring that recruitment efforts reach all communities effectively. To achieve this, the council is working with social media partners to target specific areas and is engaging with different religious groups, including visits to mosques and places of worship, to reach potential foster carers.

Bar chart showing the demographic breakdown of participants in a health program, with 'White' and 'Black' categories having the highest numbers.
Bar chart showing the demographic breakdown of participants in a health program, with 'White' and 'Black' categories having the highest numbers.

The Health and Wellbeing Board has agreed to endorse the display of foster care recruitment information in GP practices and other health services. Board members are also encouraged to consider opportunities within their own organizations to support foster carer recruitment and retention. A cross-Council working group is being established to develop recommendations and costings for these efforts.

This push for more foster carers is part of a broader strategy to improve outcomes for looked-after children, ensuring they can remain within their communities and maintain connections to family, school, and support networks. The council aims to build an outstanding, unified foster carer offer that values carers and ultimately benefits children and the council financially.

Read more about the Foster care recruitment, retention and sufficiency working across health initiative in the relevant report: Foster care recruitment retention and sufficiency working across health.

Further details on the Health and Wellbeing Board meeting can be found in the Public reports pack and the Minutes of the Lewisham Health and Wellbeing Board.