Future of foster care consultation

Closes 28 Feb 2025

Opened 24 Oct 2024

Overview

This consultation sets out a vision for the future of foster care which prioritises children’s experiences, and meets their many and varied needs, in a changing sector and society. It proposes a new flexible fostering approach that builds on the unique skills and qualities of foster carers, the good practice and innovation already happening across Scotland and the UK, and it is underpinned by comprehensive ongoing support for foster carers.

We are also consulting on the key issues that foster carers have told us are important, so that they are best equipped to continue nurturing the children in their care and play their part in delivering The Promise.

Central to our vision, and our work as we progress, will be the voice and experiences of children and young people, families and foster carers. The consultation is part of our ongoing conversations about how we collectively deliver The Promise, and we urge everyone who has an interest to contribute.

As well as written responses, there will be other opportunities across Scotland for you to be engaged and have your voice heard. We welcome and encourage you to get involved.  

Your valuable insights will support Scotland to Keep The Promise, and positively impact on the experiences of our children, young people, adults and families with care experience both now, and for the generations to come.

Read the consultation paper. The consultation paper contains full background information for this consultation. You may find it useful to read or refer to while responding.

Useful information about responding to this consultation

As you complete your response, each page will provide the option to 'Save and come back later' at the bottom. This means you can save your progress and return to the consultation at any time before it closes. If you don't use this feature and leave the consultation midway through, your response will be lost.

Once you have submitted your response, you can enter your email address to get a pdf copy of your answers sent to you.

On the 'About You' page at the end of this consultation, organisations will have the opportunity to tell us more about their work and/or how their response was informed.

After the consultation has closed there will be a few months delay before any responses are published. This is because we must check any responses to be published abide by our Terms of Use.

A analysis report will usually be published some months after the consultation has closed. This report will summarise the findings based on all responses submitted. It will be published on the Scottish Government website and you may be notified about it if you choose to share your email address with us. You can also join our consulation mailing list where we regularly list newly published analysis reports (as well as new consultations).

Why your views matter

The consultation is open to all members of the public. We are particularly keen to hear from foster carers (current, past and those considering becoming foster carers). We also want to hear from people who have care experience, in particular those with experience of foster care, birth families, and those who support foster carers and young people with care experience professionally or otherwise.

Give us your views

Interests

  • Children and Families
  • Main hub