Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to select and guide the foster parents of new child refugees.

Caring for any child requires skills and dedication. Local authorities and independent fostering agencies select and prepare all foster carers for this challenging role. The Government is committed to ensuring foster carers are afforded the appropriate recognition, support and training to ensure every looked-after child receives the high-quality care they need. We have funded a range of initiatives including “Fosterline” – a helpline which provides a confidential, impartial free advice service for foster carers and potential foster carers.

In addition, in September we commissioned the Refugee Council and ECPAT to deliver training for foster carers and support workers who are not experienced in working with unaccompanied asylum seeking or refugee children. The Government has also committed to evaluate the need for any additional training required by foster carers looking after unaccompanied children as part of our wider safeguarding strategy for unaccompanied asylum-seeking and refugee children. Further information on our safeguarding strategy can be found on the Government’s website, GOV.UK, by searching for ‘Safeguarding unaccompanied asylum-seeking and refugee children’.