Robert Brown calls for a better deal for foster parents and children

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 22nd Oct 2007

During a debate in the Scottish Parliament, Glasgow Liberal Democrat MSP Robert Brown called for a better deal for foster parents and for the recruitment of more foster parents, to improve the life chances of disadvantaged young people.

Mr. Brown also called for more support and training for foster parents to deal with the difficult challenges involved in fostering young people who can sometimes have complex problems as a result of horrendous starts in life.

Robert Brown was Deputy Minister for Education and Young People in the last Parliament. In that capacity, had responsibility for initiating a wide review of provision for foster children.

Robert Brown said:

"In our society there are few tragedies greater than children and young people being born into difficult circumstances, who are affected by various family traumas caused by neglect or abuse, and who lose the right to a childhood, and to the opportunities in life supported by a stable family that most of us take for granted.

"Those disadvantages run through life and down the generations. It is hugely significant that something like three quarters of those who appear before the Children's Panel or the Court at 16, 17 or 18 on criminal matters will have appeared before the Panel at the age of 6 for being in need of parental care and protection.

"That fact and the associated information that we have about development, literacy challenges and mental health, demonstrates the necessity of supporting families in need, of teaching family and parental skills, of early intervention and of recruiting more foster parents, and supporting and training them for complex challenges involving young people who have complex problems.

"It is an enormous tribute to the quality of our foster carers that so many of the young people in their care are able to recover and thrive, to succeed educationally and to prosper in life.

"Children in foster care have better outcomes by far than those in institutional care and those who live at home with at-risk parents. It is important, however, to recognise that that is a generalisation, and that no one solution suits every child or young person.

"It is now clearer that provision is required, ranging from the institutional care that is needed for some young people, through long-term care, through adoption on a somewhat revised model, through short-term fostering or respite care to befriending or supporting families in their own homes.

"Fostering is a policy that manifestly works-not in every instance, but certainly for many children. We need to bend every sinew to recruit more people to undertake that vital work and we need to support them, train them, ensure that they are valued and encouraged, and ensure that their standing is recognised by schools and health services in everyday life.

"Prior to the election, the Scottish Executive consulted on various issues and we expect that the strategy-which the current Scottish Government has been considering-will emerge from that very soon. The issues include things such as support when there are complaints, overnight stays, whether there should be a cap on numbers in one household, and, in particular, support that is not just financial but which includes money.

"I hope that the Minister will be able to make announcements on those issues, and that the Government will build on the interim financial investment - that the previous Executive provided - to Councils, to increase support to fosterers and to kinship carers."