The Promise Oversight Board has published the third of its progress reports, looking at whole family support and workforce. ‘Report THREE’ has found that unexpected events and systematic barriers have delayed implementation. In particular issues impacting the workforce and whole family support have meant the promise is not halfway to being kept by 2030.
However, the Board remains confident that the promise can be kept, having seen the progress that has been made and the restated commitment of those responsible for delivering it.
What areas of the promise did Report THREE look at?
The report looked at key areas of the promise: whole family support, and the workforce. It found that too many people cannot access the right family support when they need it, facing:
- housing barriers,
- issues with support for kinship, adoption, and foster carers,
- gaps in data to understand what really matters to children and families.
Short-term funding cycles have also been highlighted as an issue, with some in the workforce having to repeatedly secure funding, rather than using that focus to concentrate on the families they support. Services are stretched, and pressure is growing. The cost-of-living crisis has pushed more children, young people and families into poverty, and the workforce needs targeted investment and a national strategy— rather than cuts. Additionally, there are continuing issues with social worker retention and recruitment, as well as foster carer numbers. However, the report also found positive changes. Among these were:
- work from the community of practice for siblings to keep brothers and sisters together
- the new national minimum recommended allowance for foster carers and kinship carers.
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