A powerful piece of writing, thank you David. Are foster carers another victim of austerity and ideologies based on privatisation of public services? It seems to me that yet again the most vulnerable in our community are paying the price for these practices.
Thanks Tim, yes I think you’re right,but I’d say the thing to remember is the large number of young children, who’ve already had a traumatic start to life, having to live in expensive residential homes when they’d be better placed with a family.
The lack of caps on fees charged by children's (and adults') care homes (as well as by independent special schools), at a time when demand for placements is going through the roof, is as big a challenge as any which local authorities face. Free-market economics shouldn't be allowed to run riot because councils, with their direct grant allocations from the Government slashed beyond the bone, can't afford it. It's madness. But SCC are surely shooting themselves in the foot by not valuing foster-carers properly and not increasing their allowances. Recruiting and retaining local foster-carers is so obviously essential that you really wonder what councillors are thinking.
What a brilliant article David. I suppose I knew that foster carers were under valued and under paid, but I had no idea how bad the situation is until reading this moving piece. How short sighted of Sheffield City Council to make even further cuts to such an important group of amazing people.
I wonder whether people in government or the council are financially benefitting from this situation. If I were an investigative journalist, that's what I would research. Why else would the council have created and maintained this situation? No-one except the private companies are obviously benefitting. Not the foster carers, not the tax payer, and most importantly not the children who are fostered. As my dad would have said 'someone's getting a backhander' (being secretly given money). Either that or the level of incompetence is almost unbelievable.
Thanks for the comment. From my soundings, I genuinely feel the council are aware of the desperate nature of the modern market in children’s care, but I think backhander benefits are more likely to be found well away from Sheffield.
Amazing article. Thank you. It breaks my heart to think about how skewed our values are as a society. I work in the world of supporting people with mental illness and learning disabilities and there are so many parallels (including a baffling unwillingness often to do what seems so obviously the right thing and is often, as well as being more humane, actually cheaper). It's a strange world we live in sometimes.
Very strange, Clare, but please don't let it break your heart - this organ of yours is far too valuable to the rest of us to be allowed to break. Just keep your own bit of the system decent and healthy. This is a hard lesson for good people to learn. My son Sam (now a FRCS in Urology at Doncaster Royal Infirmary) had to learn it when he was working at Shrewsbury. Remember the Shrewsbury Hospital scandal? Well: he did what he could to rectify its shortcomings, but, as is usual in these cases, wasn't attended to. He had to content himself with ensuring that the bit for which he had to take responsibility was working well. It wasn't easy for him, just as it's not easy for you.
I'd imagine it's not just the money. I expect they're also probably sick of being over-managed, Politically Corrected, and subjected to the useless and unnecessary modern IED industry. That's why a lot of voluntary workers are quitting across the land, I gather.
When I helped run a team of volunteers at Paddington Law Centre, they were treated with respect and honour, and it was inferred from their presence that they were people of goodwill. Mind you, that was in 1974.
You’re right Ruth, it’s not just the money, the foster families don’t feel respected or listened to either. And maybe I’ve led a sheltered life but what’s the IED industry? All I know about is the Industrial Emissions Directive?
My bad! Sorry - it's DEI. Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity. I'm sure you've heard of *that.* Please allow me to refrain from further comments, as any such would probably be deleted, and, if The Tribune were a free not a subscription model, would probably get me thrown out. I'm a walking IED - Improvised Explosive Device 💣 Good job Dan needs the money 💰 I throw at him, not only for my membership but also membership for my mates.
A powerful piece of writing, thank you David. Are foster carers another victim of austerity and ideologies based on privatisation of public services? It seems to me that yet again the most vulnerable in our community are paying the price for these practices.
Thanks Tim, yes I think you’re right,but I’d say the thing to remember is the large number of young children, who’ve already had a traumatic start to life, having to live in expensive residential homes when they’d be better placed with a family.
The lack of caps on fees charged by children's (and adults') care homes (as well as by independent special schools), at a time when demand for placements is going through the roof, is as big a challenge as any which local authorities face. Free-market economics shouldn't be allowed to run riot because councils, with their direct grant allocations from the Government slashed beyond the bone, can't afford it. It's madness. But SCC are surely shooting themselves in the foot by not valuing foster-carers properly and not increasing their allowances. Recruiting and retaining local foster-carers is so obviously essential that you really wonder what councillors are thinking.
I think we’d agree with pretty much all of that Matthew!
What a brilliant article David. I suppose I knew that foster carers were under valued and under paid, but I had no idea how bad the situation is until reading this moving piece. How short sighted of Sheffield City Council to make even further cuts to such an important group of amazing people.
Thanks Eileen.
I wonder whether people in government or the council are financially benefitting from this situation. If I were an investigative journalist, that's what I would research. Why else would the council have created and maintained this situation? No-one except the private companies are obviously benefitting. Not the foster carers, not the tax payer, and most importantly not the children who are fostered. As my dad would have said 'someone's getting a backhander' (being secretly given money). Either that or the level of incompetence is almost unbelievable.
Thanks for the comment. From my soundings, I genuinely feel the council are aware of the desperate nature of the modern market in children’s care, but I think backhander benefits are more likely to be found well away from Sheffield.
Amazing article. Thank you. It breaks my heart to think about how skewed our values are as a society. I work in the world of supporting people with mental illness and learning disabilities and there are so many parallels (including a baffling unwillingness often to do what seems so obviously the right thing and is often, as well as being more humane, actually cheaper). It's a strange world we live in sometimes.
Many thanks Clare. Yes, I think we’re quite baffled too.
Very strange, Clare, but please don't let it break your heart - this organ of yours is far too valuable to the rest of us to be allowed to break. Just keep your own bit of the system decent and healthy. This is a hard lesson for good people to learn. My son Sam (now a FRCS in Urology at Doncaster Royal Infirmary) had to learn it when he was working at Shrewsbury. Remember the Shrewsbury Hospital scandal? Well: he did what he could to rectify its shortcomings, but, as is usual in these cases, wasn't attended to. He had to content himself with ensuring that the bit for which he had to take responsibility was working well. It wasn't easy for him, just as it's not easy for you.
Brilliant article, illuminating an area I know very little about!
Thanks David!
I'd imagine it's not just the money. I expect they're also probably sick of being over-managed, Politically Corrected, and subjected to the useless and unnecessary modern IED industry. That's why a lot of voluntary workers are quitting across the land, I gather.
When I helped run a team of volunteers at Paddington Law Centre, they were treated with respect and honour, and it was inferred from their presence that they were people of goodwill. Mind you, that was in 1974.
You’re right Ruth, it’s not just the money, the foster families don’t feel respected or listened to either. And maybe I’ve led a sheltered life but what’s the IED industry? All I know about is the Industrial Emissions Directive?
My bad! Sorry - it's DEI. Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity. I'm sure you've heard of *that.* Please allow me to refrain from further comments, as any such would probably be deleted, and, if The Tribune were a free not a subscription model, would probably get me thrown out. I'm a walking IED - Improvised Explosive Device 💣 Good job Dan needs the money 💰 I throw at him, not only for my membership but also membership for my mates.
Every local newspaper needs a human IED or two, Ruth!
Aw, thanks, David 🤭