Foster Carer Wellbeing has been developed in direct response to the South East Rewards and Offers for Foster Carers Diagnostic, undertaken between September 2025 and February 2026. (project 44 in the 2025-26 Regional Improvement Plan)
- The diagnostic, which included a regional Foster Carer Survey and a deep dive into the utilisation of fostering beds, identified a consistent message from foster carers and fostering services across the South East. This identified the need for greater access to preventative emotional wellbeing support and therefore strengthening the wellbeing offer for foster carers. This has the potential to improve retention, increase utilisation of in-house fostering capacity and enhance placement stability for children and young people.
- Foster Carer Wellbeing represents the next phase of this regional improvement programme and has a budget of £100,000 from the South East Sector Led Improvement Programme (SESLIP) over three years (2026-2027: £25,000; 2027-2028: £50,000; 2028-2029: £25,000) to co-design, pilot and evaluate a preventative Foster Carer Retention and Wellbeing Programme that equips foster carers with practical emotional regulation skills, strengthens confidence and resilience, and supports more stable family relationships.
- Rather than responding once placements are under pressure, Foster Carer Wellbeing focuses on early intervention, helping foster carers recognise and manage stress, build emotional resilience and develop practical techniques that can also be used to support children through co-regulation and trauma-informed relationships.
- The programme will initially support approximately 60–80 foster carers, generating regional learning, implementation resources and an evidence-based model that can be adopted by all South East local authorities.
The Project Sponsor is Sarah Daly, Portsmouth DCS.