Question reference: S2W-29638
- Asked by: Scott Barrie, MSP for Dunfermline West, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 6 November 2006
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Current status: Answered by Peter Peacock on 7 November 2006
Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will begin the consultation on the National Fostering Strategy and who will be consulted.
Answer
I plan to launch the consultationon the National Fostering Strategy in December 2006. This will be a standard publicconsultation, open for all to respond. In addition, a reference group has been setup to ensure that key stakeholders have an early input to the consultation process.
Theconsultation on the strategy will seek views on how we can achieve the goal of creatinga safe, stable and secure home and environment for children and young people whoneed to live in foster care or kinship care and prepare them for independent, adultliving. Similarly, it will address the issues identified by foster carers and kinshipcarers as crucial in improving recruitment and retention, such as financial allowances,other forms of support and training and development. More widely, it will seek viewson ensuring fostering services and kinship care arrangements are able to meet thechallenges to be faced over the next 20 years.
I also plan to involve the EducationCommittee of Parliament in the consideration of the strategy.