The Children and Families Cabinet Panel met on Tuesday 12 May 2026 to discuss fostering reforms and strategy, with a particular focus on increasing the remuneration and support for in-house foster carers. The panel noted the proposed uplift in fees and allowances for foster carers and supported the move towards a regionalised model for foster care recruitment and assessment.

Response to Motion - Fostering Reforms and Strategy

The panel discussed a motion raised by Councillor Paula Hiscocks and seconded by Councillor Dee Hart concerning 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 increasing pay against savings from reducing reliance on independent agencies, and developing a recruitment and retention plan.

Miranda Gittas, Director of Specialist Services and Commissioning, and Claire Frampton, Head of Service for Adoption and Fostering, presented the report. They confirmed that an uplift of 9.7% in foster carer remuneration had been agreed for 2026-2027. This comprised a 6.7% uplift to fostering allowances, set by the Department for Education, and an additional 3% uplift to the skills payment, which local authorities have discretion over. This increase aims to keep Hertfordshire's payments competitive with neighbouring authorities, although Essex currently offers a higher total fee and a welcome fee.

The panel heard that Hertfordshire has a robust fostering strategy and has seen success in recruiting the most foster carers in the eastern region, with high retention rates. The council also boasts the largest number of Mockingbird Hubs in the country, a model that supports foster families by creating communities for mutual support. Specialist programmes such as NEST (Nurture Empathy Support Trust) and emergency foster carers were also highlighted for their success in placing children with complex needs and facilitating early returns to families, respectively.

Discussions also touched upon the government's national shift towards regionalisation of foster care recruitment and assessment, with the proposed establishment of Regional Care Cooperatives (RCCs) and fostering hubs. Hertfordshire is part of the Foster East initiative, a collaborative effort with 10 other local authorities in the East of England, which aims to share resources, data, and best practices. While acknowledging the potential impact of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) on future regional structures, the council remains committed to working regionally.

Several councillors raised questions and comments regarding the competitiveness of fees, the disparity between in-house and agency carer payments, and the potential impact of increased payments on attracting the right type of foster carers. Officers emphasised that while financial remuneration is important, the support offer provided by the council, including social worker contact, support groups, and access to information, is equally crucial for retention. They also stressed that the assessment process is rigorous and designed to identify individuals motivated by a desire to make a difference in a child's life.

The panel noted the ongoing work to address recruitment and retention challenges, including a refreshed Fostering Recruitment Strategy which saw 36 new foster carers recruited in 2025/26. The importance of word-of-mouth and community outreach, such as the Help campaign and events in local markets, was also highlighted as a key recruitment tool.

The panel concluded by noting and commenting on the report, noting the proposed uplift for fees and allowances for 2026-2027, and supporting the direction of travel towards a regional model for foster care recruitment and assessment.

The meeting also included updates on the Children's Social Care 2025/26 Quarter 3 Performance Report, the refresh of the Hertfordshire Carers Strategy, an update on the Family Support Service, and the Crisis and Resilience Fund. The Holiday Activity & Food Programme (HAPpy Programme) was also discussed.