Resources

NAFP briefings

The Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) is conducting an inquiry public procurement, with a particular emphasis on the Government's capability to procire goods and services effectively. NAFP, the Independent Children’s Home Association (ICHA) and the National Association of Independent Schools and Non-Maintained Special Schools (NASS) have made a written submission to PASC: Written Submission - Public Administration Committee Inquiry into Public Procurement.

Death By Paperwork, 14 May 2012

NAFP, the Independent Children’s Home Association (ICHA) and the National Association of Independent Schools and Non-Maintained Special Schools (NASS), which represent 400 providers of children’s services, meeting the needs of over 17,500 children, have carried out a survey of members which found that providers are spending increasing amounts of time filling in forms and that key personnel are regularly being diverted away from frontline services to manage the burgeoning bureaucracy associated with local authority tendering and contracting.

Open Public Services White Paper, September 2011

NAFP, in partnership with the Independent Children's Homes Association (ICHA), National Association of Special Schools (NASS) and the Social Care Association, have agreed a short paper in response to the Government’s Open Public Services White Paper. Our four organisations strongly welcome the White Paper and its recognition of the role of the voluntary and private sectors. However, we are asking the Government to examine how their proposals will enhance the lives of children and young people by reducing barriers to the essential work of these sectors. This short position paper uses the five key principles set out in the White Paper and indicates where we are now and what is needed for the future in these five areas.

Position paper on the Open Public Services White Paper

England

There were 67,050 looked after children in England as at 31 March 2012, an increase of 2% compared to 2011 and an increase of 13% compared to 2008. 42,890 (64%) children were placed with foster carers, an increase from 41,100 (63%) in 2011. 15,080 children were placed through an independent fostering provider, up from 13,670 in 2011.

DfE: Children Looked After by Local Authorities in England (including adoption and care leavers) - year ending 31 March 2012

Official statistics: Children's social care inspections and outcomes

Scotland

The number of looked after children has been increasing since 2001 due to more children being looked after away from home in community settings, in particular with foster carers/prospective adopters, with friends and relatives. After previously increasing from 2001 to 2008, over the past five years there has been an overall decrease in the numbers of children looked after at home. Numbers of children looked after in residential care have seen a slight downward trend since 2007. Between 2011 and 2012 the increase in total numbers looked after has slowed, with less than a 1% increase from 16,231 in 2011 to 16,248 in 2012. The number of children being looked after by foster carers/prospective adopters or in other community placements remains at the highest level on record and, for the first time in 2012 there were more children looked after by foster carers/prospective adopters than looked after at home. In 2011, there were 3,871 children placed with local authority carers and 1,197 placed with IFP carers. These numbers rose to 3,946 (24%) and 1,333 (8%) respectively in 2012.

Children's Social Work Statistics, 2011-12

Wales

5,726 children were looked after on 31 March 2012, an increase of 6% over the previous year. The number of looked after children has increased by 24% over the last five years. 4,428 were in foster placements (77%), an increase of 3%. Of these children, 2,215 were with local authority foster carers, 1,340 with IFP carers and 865 with relatives or friends, giving 3,555 with foster carers (62% local authority, 38% IFP).

Adoptions, Outcomes and Placements for Children Looked After by Local Authorities, Year Ending 31 March 2012