IWGB Foster Care Workers Branch UK

15/05/2026

Fostering Network’s annual Fostering Fortnight is taking place right now.

It seeks to shine a spotlight on the “everyday experiences of fostering,” with the stated aim of forming a clearer picture of fostering in the UK.

The IWGB Foster Care Worker Union welcomes any measure that will improve the lives of our children, the most important aspect of our work.

While sounding flash and daring, we, the IWGB Foster Care Workers Union, know that in reality, the Fostering Network is incapable of fixing the multiple crises engulfing foster care.

As a registered charity, funded in part by local authority contracts, with no mechanism or appreciation for genuine internal democracy, the Fostering Network is not what we require to meet this moment.

The Fostering Network may admit problems exist, but they still seem to want us to sugarcoat foster care. As they celebrate the rewarding aspects, they paper over the huge cracks decaying the system and pushing children into danger.

Rather than properly addressing the many problems we face, they want to sell a Hallmark movie version of fostering that lures people into one of the 10,000 vacant foster care spots and hides the reality awaiting them.

We won’t wear their rose-tinted glasses. We can’t celebrate the current state of the foster care system the way the Fostering Network wants us to. Where we can find joy is in the power of our union, the support of our community, the material change of our wins, the deep love we have for the children in our care and our determination to secure justice for them.

Save time on this charade and just listen to foster carers, like our members across the UK, who are already identifying and demanding solutions at all levels of government.

Our critique comes from a place of real care for our work, our members, and the crisis in foster care worker retention. We want to stop children in care being swallowed by this Dickensian trend toward residential homes, some of which are not even regulated - a fact ignored by the government.

Our well-thought-out proposals for workers’ rights, a professional register, and trade union recognition are born of our commitment to delivering the best for the kids who need it most. It is vital that we solve these urgent issues, and that we do so the IWGB Foster Care Union way.

01/05/2026

The IWGB Foster Care Worker Union is absolutely horrified by the wave of reports surrounding the “illegal” care home scandal unfolding in children’s care homes across England and Wales.

Vulnerable children are being put directly in harm’s way by the very same people who are supposed to protect them.

We are heartbroken by the hundreds of instances of children’s homes, unregulated by Ofsted, including credible allegations of young girls being drugged and r***d.

Highlighted by reporters at LBC’s Crime Agents and The Guardian, kids are being “outsourced” to caravans, Airbnbs and holiday camps. Instead of being kept safe, young children under the state’s so-called care are being subjected to devastating further harm.

Seldom is the direct link made between the horrific stories of unregulated children’s homes and the chronic lack of foster carers, who could be, if enlisted, providing loving and supportive homes instead.

To fix this absolute mess, we must fix the crisis in foster care worker retention. Ministers like Josh McAlister and others with power must grasp the nettle, show some courage, and accept that the only solution is to grant foster carers’ worker status, professional registration, and a seat at the table.

Only this route can remedy the declining numbers of qualified and quality foster carers, with years of experience nurturing children in care, and the sector’s acute crisis.

WE, the IWGB Foster Care Worker Union, will not stop fighting to hold decision makers to account for the appalling abuses enabled under their watch.

Part of this effort must be securing a foster care system where children are kept safe from danger, not thrown directly into it.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/apr/20/get-to-grips-on-illegal-child-social-care-in-england-ministers-are-told

Comment below to join us.

28/04/2026

Have you had a fostering ‘hub’ introduced in your area? Has it changed anything?

It’s clear to most people who foster that we don’t need any more expensive window dressing, we need to listen to carers, and reform the system in line with real experiences of the role today.

Carers belonging to the IWGB Foster Care Workers Union are pushing for meaningful, effective change. Join us: https://fosteriwgb.co.uk/join/

20/04/2026

Almost daily, we are now seeing media reports of scandals happening in children’s care homes across England. Children are being put directly in harm’s way by the people who were supposed to protect them.

‘Illegal’ has become the norm. We have heard heartbreaking reports of hundreds of unregulated children’s homes, including credible allegations of young girls being drugged and r***d.

Now, this fresh reporting in the Guardian shows that kids are being “outsourced” to caravans, AirBnBs and holiday camps. These are vulnerable young children who have been brought under the state’s care to be kept safe. Instead, they are being subjected to devastating further harm.

Seldom is the direct link made between these horrific reports of unregulated children's homes and the chronic lack of foster carers who could be, if enlisted,providing loving, supportive homes instead.

To fix this absolute mess, we must fix the crisis in foster care retention. The first order of business is for Josh McAllister and those in positions of power to grasp the nettle, show some courage, and accept that the only way to reverse this catastrophe is by giving foster carers workers’ rights, a professional register and a seat at the table.

Only then can the chronic shortage of carers and the acute crisis in the sector be honestly addressed.

The IWGB Foster Care Workers Union will not stop fighting until we hold decision makers to account for the appalling abuses happening under their watch, and secure a system where children are kept safe from danger, not thrown directly into it. Comment below to join us.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/apr/20/get-to-grips-on-illegal-child-social-care-in-england-ministers-are-told

10/04/2026

10/04/2026

Children must be kept safe. But it is entirely possible to ensure children’s safety whilst also protecting carers’ right to a fair, balanced investigation.

Under the current system, the risk of unfounded allegations is a huge detterant for would-be carers. It’s contributing significantly to our shortage of 8,000 households, and is clearly therefore in neither carers’ nor children’s interests.

Comment below or send us a message to hear more about how we’re fighting for change at the IWGB Foster Care Workers Union.

31/03/2026

The number of foster carers in the North East dropped 33% over the last year. Instead of addressing the real issues pushing these carers out of the system, twelve local authorities in the region have announced plans to merge under a new joint fostering 'hub'.

These 'Foster with North East' hub proposals are just glossy branding for service cuts and centralisation - much like the hub model in Wales, that is failing to deliver better support for carers.

Come and join us in Choppington, Northumberland, this Thursday to meet other carers in the area, share the challenges we're facing, and strategise on how we can raise our voices to win real change. Email [email protected] for more information.

Register to attend the event remotely via this link

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89816889995?pwd=t8IBYamQGSNL82p2le2PIvrkWso6xb.1

20/03/2026

The Scottish Parliament just voted through 'The Promise Bill' - designed to address the crisis in children’s social care.

But what exactly are the changes to foster care, and will they actually fix anything?

We’ve pulled out three key proposals for shared our responses.

The Promise was painted as the answer to all the sector’s problems, but it falls woefully short of addressing the fundamental issues that have left the system in its present crisis.

We have seen legislation like this fail time and time again. That is why it is so important for carers to build a strong union - so that we can put pressure on decision makers and ensure our voices are shaping the solution.

17/03/2026

We united with National Union of Professional Foster Carers and Foster Support Members yesterday to deliver a joint letter to Parliament urging professional recognition for carers instead of endless, ineffective recruitment campaigns.

Carers from across different groups, different work settings and different parts of the country are all in agreement: the system is outdated, unfair and falling further into crisis every day.

Join our movement for change and let's win the system we deserve together.