National Union of Professional Foster Carers

Many fostering providers have inadvertently created employment contracts (and no, reverting the changes after they have been signed and agreed does not negate their legal implications.) When a Local Authority or Agency alters a Fostering Agreement beyond what’s set out in regulations, by adding extra duties or making modifications, it legally transforms into the providers own contract. This means the foster carer enters a worker relationship and entitled to employment rights. This raises important legal and ethical questions for the sector. Are fostering providers aware of these implications? How should policy and practice adapt to ensure compliance? If you are a fostering provider and want to check if you are working within (current) laws and regulations contact us: enquiries@nupfc.com

Why Collective Bargaining Matters for Retention & Recruitment Foster carers’ recognition as ‘workers’ for union membership (NUPFC v Certification Officer 2021) brings collective bargaining into the heart of the sector. Imagine the impact: ✅ Retention: Carers who feel heard and supported stay longer. ✅ Recruitment: A sector that respects carers attracts the best. ✅ Better Outcomes for Children: Stability in placements leads to stronger attachments and longterm success. This is more than a legal ruling, it’s a blueprint for a sustainable fostering future. https://lnkd.in/dF75XPvH

Fair Representation in Foster Care: Breaking the Silence In any sector, true progress requires diverse perspectives. Yet in foster care, the voices that shape policy and practice are often those who reinforce the preferred narrative. Those who challenge the system, those who feel unheard, are too often left out of the conversation entirely. This creates a dangerous disconnect between perception and reality. If only those who are satisfied with the status quo are given a voice, how can we ever address the real issues? But progress is finally being made. For the first time, we have been included as key stakeholders in discussions with the government. This is a major shift, and while there is still much to be done, we have finally taken our place at the table where change happens. The journey continues, but at last, we are being heard. https://lnkd.in/dF75XPvH

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Foster Care Has Changed—So Why Are Foster Carers Still Treated Like Volunteers? Foster care has transformed. What began as an act of kindness is now a highly regulated, professional role. Carers work within strict legal frameworks, follow safeguarding laws, attend professional meetings, and are held to disciplinary processes. Yet despite all of this, foster carers are still seen as well-meaning volunteers, without rights, professional status, or a meaningful voice in the system. Here’s the contradiction: ✅ They work within a regulated system—but aren’t recognised as professionals. ✅ They follow safeguarding laws—but lack employment protections. ✅ They undergo training and scrutiny—but are still seen as “just carers.” Meanwhile, fostering has become a billion-pound industry, with a single foster carer generating around £250,000 in revenue. Yet carers remain at the bottom of the hierarchy, controlled but not empowered. This outdated approach is failing. Foster carers are leaving in record numbers because they feel undervalued and unsupported. Recruitment is struggling because potential carers see how they are treated and walk away. Foster care has evolved. The role of a foster carer has evolved. It’s time their status and recognition evolved too. Help your carers feel professionally valued, tell them about us: https://lnkd.in/dF75XPvH

STATEMENT FROM NUPFC GENERAL SECRETARY ROBIN FINDLAY "In the past week, we have been inundated with concerns from foster carers who feel their voices are being stifled, silenced under the pretence of ‘zero tolerance’ and censored when their experiences do not conform to a predetermined narrative. Opinions deemed ‘negative’ are cast aside, and anything labelled ‘misinformation’ is swiftly banned. Yet, the great irony is this: while these organisations claim to protect truth, they themselves are the arbiters of suppression, providing foster carers with somewhat selective, and at times misleading, information while withholding the very knowledge that would empower them. This is not merely disappointing, it is profoundly alarming. At a time when so many are working to repair broken trust, to promote respect, and to improve frontline social work practice, it is deeply troubling to see organisations that purports to support foster carers instead perpetuate the very culture of control and fear we seek to dismantle. When suppression is embedded at the highest levels of leadership, it sends a clear message: that silence is expected, compliance is demanded, and those who dare to speak out will be marginalised. Such an approach does not serve foster carers, nor does it serve the children they dedicate their lives to. Worse still, it undermines the tireless efforts of those striving for openness, fairness, and meaningful reform. Let us be unequivocal, at NUPFC, we do not fear discussion and opinion; we welcome it. We do not silence carers; we amplify them. We take their concerns directly to the government, ensuring their voices are heard where it matters most. If we encounter differing views, we do not dismiss them; we engage with reason, with evidence, and with respect. Every foster carer matters. Not just those who conform, not just those who agree, but every single one. And we will continue to stand with them, undeterred, unwavering, and unshaken in our pursuit of a fairer, more just fostering system." Give you foster carer's the gift of respect: https://lnkd.in/dF75XPvH

🔎 Defining Good Practice in Foster Care What does good practice look like in foster care? It could be excellent social work, foster carers going above and beyond, or systems that truly support children and families. What examples of good practice have you seen? And where do we still need change? Let’s start the discussion—share your insights below. ⬇ Join us: https://lnkd.in/dF75XPvH

🔎 Rethinking ‘Independent Support’ for Foster Carers As we work with the government, we are raising key questions about the true independence of foster carer support services. 💡 Can support organisations be genuinely independent if they rely on funding from providers and the government? 💡 Should fostering services control who carers can access for support during an allegation? 💡 Why are carers often kept in the dark about their independent right to join a union? If foster carers are to be properly supported, we need to rethink what independence truly means. How do we ensure fair, unbiased support? www.nupfc.com/membership

📢 Holding the System to Account One of the biggest issues we’re raising with the government? The lack of accountability when professionals fail to uphold National Minimum Standards and Regulations. Too often, these breaches are met with little more than a quiet conversation, and a staggering most will go on to do it again. 🖐 This not only harms foster carers and children but also undermines the incredible professionals who uphold good practice every day. If we want real change, accountability must apply at every level. How can we work together to ensure consequences for those who fail the system? https://lnkd.in/gDGWF6Sy

Our work with the Government continues.... 🔎 Getting Under the Skin of the Allegations System At FosterWiki, we are committed to working with government and the sector for real change—not just surface-level policy tweaks or improved ‘timescales’. For too long, allegations have been weaponised against foster carers, leaving them with irreparable damage to their reputation, regardless of the outcome. Even ‘unfounded’ cases carry hidden consequences—restrictions, forced training, and implied guilt that never truly goes away. We need: ✅ Balanced power structures ✅ Accountability in decision-making ✅ Truthful and fair reporting on carers ✅ A system that doesn’t presume guilt ✅ Allegations training that includes the carer's perspective It’s time to have difficult but necessary conversations. How can we work together to make the system fairer? Share the NUPFC with foster carers: https://lnkd.in/gDGWF6Sy