Future of foster care consultation

We asked for your views on a vision for the future of foster care in Scotland that prioritises children’s experiences, and meets their many and varied needs, in a changing sector and society, so foster carers are best equipped to continue nurturing the children in their care and play their part in delivering The Promise. 

The consultation paper first set out the strategic context, including the vision for the future of fostering. It then set out proposed elements of a flexible fostering approach, which builds on the unique skills and qualities of foster carers, good practice and innovation and is underpinned by comprehensive ongoing support for foster carers. We also asked for views on the key issues that foster carers have told us are important, such as, frameworks for learning and development, guidance on managing allegations against foster carers, recruitment and retention of foster carers, allowances and fees and improved guidance and support for decision making.

The consultation asked about issues that were for consideration in the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill, such as the role of Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) becoming registered charities and a national register of foster carers.

The proposals were developed in partnership with stakeholders, including the voices of children, young people, families and foster carers.

The consultation is part of our ongoing conversations about how we collectively deliver The Promise and part of a package of related public consultations and engagement. These include the recent consultations about ‘Moving On’ From Care Into Adulthood, The Children’s Hearing Redesign and Developing a Universal Definition of ‘Care Experience’.

At the same time as the Future of Foster Care consultation, we also commissioned an independent review of the Scottish Recommended Allowance for Foster and Kinship Carers (SRA). This review sought to explore the extent to which the SRA was bringing consistency and transparency to the allowances paid to foster and kinship carers, and to explore if caregivers, no matter where they lived, were receiving at least the SRA. Questions were also asked about the sufficiency of the SRA, considering both the age bands and rates paid. The review was published on 18 July 2025.

In total, 103 consultation responses were received across the 7 week period. Of those 103 responses, 47% were from organisations, and 53% were from individuals. The consultation was supported by a series of online and in-person engagement events throughout the consultation period which reached over 500 people.

Many respondents were positive about the vision for the future of foster care and felt it was in line with The Promise's aims. However, many others felt it would be difficult to achieve the vision because of current issues such as limited funding or a lack of experienced foster carers. Respondents gave various levels of support for the proposed elements of a flexible fostering approach but, overall, were more supportive than not.

Respondents gave mixed support for the creation of a national register of foster carers. Foster carers were generally supportive, hoping that it will improve their status and professional recognition. Many respondents highlighted the need for improved financial support and training and greater respect for the role of foster carers. Over four fifths (84%) of respondents agreed that all Independent Fostering Agencies should be required to have charitable status, with 16% opposed. A majority of both individuals and organisations were in favour, at 80% and 89%, respectively.

Most respondents (83%) felt there was a need for a new learning framework for foster carers to support their training and skills development and to make training and development more similar across Scotland. Currently there is distinct variation in the learning and training resources received by foster carers, and caregivers more broadly. Suggestions included providing more support to foster carers so they had the time and opportunity to attend training, making training flexible and easy to access, and using more digital and online learning.

Most respondents (91%) thought the national guidance for dealing with allegations and raising concerns about foster carers should be updated, wanting clearer steps to follow and quicker timeframes. They also want better support for children and young people during this process, and to make sure the rules fit with current child protection laws. Respondents also agreed that foster carers should have a right to raise concerns and needed a clear way to do this.

Overall, there was broad support for the proposals in the consultation.

The Scottish Government, through a fair and open procurement process, commissioned The Lines Between to undertake an independent, impartial analysis of the responses to the consultation. This analysis was published in October 2025, the responses themselves are also published (where permission to publish was given).

In the current financial year, we have undertaken a variety of work to both inform and progress work to realise our vision for foster care so we can deliver on The Promise. This has included:

• Consulting on the Future of Foster Care in Scotland and publishing the findings.
• Commissioning and publishing the implementation review of the Scottish Recommended Allowance for Foster and Kinship Carers (SRA).
• Providing an additional £1.9m funding, as part of the Programme for Government, to uprate the SRA by 1.7%.
• Designing, delivering and evaluating a recruitment and retention campaign that aimed to build public awareness of foster care and recruit a more diverse range of foster carers.
• Implementing additional leave allowances for foster and kinship carers within the Scottish Government and commencing engagement with third-sector organisations and businesses to encourage them to do similar.
• Working in partnership with NHS Education for Scotland, we have developed initial learning materials and resources into a bespoke trauma training course for foster carers rolled out under the National Trauma Transformation Programme to help carers provide trauma-informed care for the children they look after.
• Initial small-scale testing of the course, ‘Thriving Futures’, took place in March 2025 in West Lothian with a group of foster carers. We are continuing to work with stakeholders and carers as we test the materials further and consider next steps to further test and develop this resource in 2025/26.

What changed because of feedback

You said clearer national direction is needed on learning and development and on handling allegations. We will develop an updated national learning framework for foster carers and modernise national guidance on allegations and raising concerns, ensuring clearer steps, timeframes and supports for children, carers and practitioners.

We have included proposals in the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill based on responses from the consultation including:

• Creation of a national register of foster carers – this received mixed support in the Future of Foster Care consultation with respondents recognising that it could enhance safeguarding, improve regulation, support matching and facilitate mobility of carers across agencies.
• A requirement for all Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) to become registered charities – this received strong support in the consultation, with respondents stating it would better ensure IFAs do not make profit, increase transparency and accountability, and ensure reinvestment of surplus funds in improving foster care services.

Your responses to our consultation are helping shape the future of foster care in Scotland. We are carefully considering what we have heard during the consultation process, and linking it to the findings of the SRA review - to help inform development of future policy, legislation and practice, and we will continue to engage with foster carers, key stakeholders along with representatives of those with lived and living experience of foster care. As we have committed through The Promise, children and young people’s voices will remain central to any policy development, alongside the insights of foster carers and local authorities on key issues such as recruitment, retention, and the support carers need.

What we’re not doing (and why)
 

You said several additional issues could be included in our considerations of the Future of Foster Care, reflecting what came through in the consultation responses. We recognise we cannot deliver everything at once. We won’t expand the scope further at this time so we can prioritise delivery on the areas with strongest consensus and greatest impact. In 2025–26 our priority is to progress time-bound legislative work while planning the next steps. The remaining areas highlighted through the consultations will be taken forward through a phased programme to 2030, aligned with The Promise. We’ll report progress through our regular updates.

Next steps & timelines

We have finalised and published the consultation analysis and responses, we will progress Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) Bill provisions on the national register of foster carers and IFAs as charities at Stage 2 and begin work on the updated learning framework and allegations guidance in 2026. This will be part of a wider strategic plan we will develop, with input from partners and those with lived experience, on how we will deliver the vision for foster care in a way that is impactful and feasible within the constraints of resources and workforce. We will provide an update in spring 2026.

How to stay involved
If you would like to stay involved or share further insights, please contact fostercareconsultation@gov.scot.  We will publish periodic updates on gov.scot and via stakeholder channels.