Britain needs 9,000 more foster parents

1000s of vulnerable children face “revolving door” care as Britain grapples with a 9,000 shortfall of foster carers, a report warned last night.More than 61,700 children are in care, a record boosted by councils seeking to avoid the ­mistakes of the Baby P case.

Almost 20 per cent of them are under a year old, while nearly a third are at least 10 years old.

The Fostering Network warned that the shortfall was seeing increasing numbers placed with foster families that offer a “less than ideal” fit, leading to repeated disruption to already traumatic lives.

Some are forced to move to other parts of the country losing contact with friends while more than 500 siblings have been separated. Children who may have thrived with a foster family find themselves placed in care homes instead.

The situation is made worse by the need to replace 13 per cent of foster carers who retire or leave every year.

According the Fostering Network, an extra 7,350 foster families are needed in England, 850 in Scotland, 600 in Wales and 200 in Northern Ireland.