Capacity in foster care stalling, despite rising demand Ofsted says

The number of fostering places and carers only increased slightly this year, despite demand being at its highest, new data shows. Ofsted’s annual fostering statistics show there has been little change in capacity, adding to concerns about the difficulty in finding suitable care for the most vulnerable children in an over-stretched system. For the first time, today’s statistics also capture the age profile of England’s foster carers, showing that the vast majority – some 65% – are aged over 50, while a quarter of carers are aged over 60.

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