The Children and Families Cabinet Panel met on Tuesday 12 May 2026 to discuss fostering reforms and strategy. The panel noted an uplift in fees and allowances for in-house foster carers and supported the move towards a regional model for foster care recruitment and assessment.

Response to Motion - Fostering Reforms and Strategy

The panel discussed a motion raised by Councillor P Hiscocks and seconded by Councillor D Hart regarding fostering reforms and strategy. The motion called for a review and uplift of fees and allowances for Hertfordshire's in-house foster carers to make them more competitive with neighbouring authorities, modelling the financial impact of increased pay against savings from reduced reliance on independent fostering agencies (IFAs), and developing a recruitment and retention plan.

Miranda Gittas, the Director of Specialist Services and Commissioning, and Claire Frampton, the Head of Service for Adoption and Fostering, presented the report. They confirmed that an uplift of 9.7% for foster carers had been agreed for 2026-2027, comprising a 6.7% uplift to fostering allowances set by the Department for Education and an additional 3% uplift to fostering skills payments, which local authorities determine. This brings Hertfordshire's total payment to £503.61 per week, making it competitive within the eastern region.

The panel heard that Hertfordshire had recruited the most foster carers in the eastern region in the past year and had high retention rates. The council also highlighted its robust support offer for foster carers, including nine Mockingbird Hubs, the largest number nationally. These hubs provide a community-based model where experienced fostering households support several other fostering households, offering shared support, guidance, training, and respite. The NEST (Nurture Empathy Support Trust) programme, which provides an enhanced rate and support for foster carers taking on children from residential placements, and the Emergency Foster Carers programme were also mentioned as unique initiatives that have increased fostering capacity and reduced the need for more costly independent placements.

Discussions also covered the government's national shift towards regionalisation of foster care recruitment and assessment, with the aim of establishing Regional Care Cooperatives (RCCs) by 2028. Hertfordshire is part of the Foster East initiative, a collaborative project involving 11 local councils in the East of England, which aims to share resources, marketing, and best practices to improve foster carer recruitment and retention. The council's proposal for an eastern region hub-and-spoke model was discussed, which would maintain a regional hub for marketing and initial engagement while keeping assessment and support more localised.

Several councillors raised questions and comments. Councillor Hart inquired about the competitiveness of Hertfordshire's fees compared to independent agencies, and was assured that while agencies might pay slightly more, Hertfordshire's strong support offer was a key factor in attracting and retaining foster carers. Councillor Pope asked about fee disparities across the region and the impact of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) on regional plans. Councillor Lloyd expressed support for the work being done and asked about any concerns regarding government proposals, to which officers responded that they were closely monitoring proposals, particularly regarding fostering panels, to ensure safeguarding was not compromised. Councillor Hiscocks reiterated the importance of competitive pay and suggested exploring partnerships with local businesses to offer additional benefits to foster carers. Councillor Bell welcomed the motion and the work being done, while Councillor Swanston commented that the difference in skills payments between Hertfordshire and Essex was minimal and that comparisons with London boroughs were not helpful. Councillor Taylor-Moran raised concerns about attracting the wrong types of people if the focus became solely on money and the potential for a bidding war between local authorities. Councillor Price sought clarification on the figures quoted for agency costs versus in-house foster carer payments. Councillor Pope also asked about the timing of fee increases and the prevalence of foster carers working as a business. Officers clarified that while some foster carers do it as a profession, the primary motivation for most is to help children, and the assessment process is rigorous enough to identify those with the right motivations. The panel was informed that Hertfordshire had a net gain of 13 foster carers in the past year, outperforming other eastern region partners. Councillor Hiscocks concluded by emphasising the need for a strong offer to prevent carers from leaving for agencies and to meet demand, and to ensure children were placed in loving, local homes.

The panel was asked to note and comment on the content of the report, to note the proposed uplift for fees and allowances for 2026-2027, and to support the direction of travel for foster care recruitment and assessment within a regional model. The panel noted and commented on the response to the motion, rather than voting on the motion itself.

The meeting also included updates on the Holiday Activity & Food Programme (HAPpy Programme) and the Crisis and Resilience Fund. The HAPpy Programme, which provides free holiday activities and food for children eligible for free school meals, was reported to have incorporated over 1,000 SEND children. The Crisis and Resilience Fund, a three-year grant from the Department for Work and Pensions, aims to support vulnerable households facing immediate financial crisis and strengthen long-term resilience. Discussions included the allocation of funds, eligibility criteria, and the provision of food vouchers during school holidays. The panel also noted the ongoing work to establish community supermarkets across all districts and boroughs.