Barnet Foster Carers Plummet, No Shortcut Says Rawlings 2026

Key Points

• Councillor Barry Rawlings, Leader of Barnet Council, admits there is “no shortcut” to address the declining number of foster carers in the borough.
• Numbers of registered foster carers have dropped significantly, exacerbating pressures on children’s social care services.
• Barnet Council reported 182 registered foster households as of December 2024, down from 210 in 2022 and a peak of 239 in 2019.​
• The council faces challenges in recruitment and retention amid national trends of foster carer shortages.
• Urgent calls from councillors for innovative strategies, including financial incentives and awareness campaigns.
• Children’s services are under strain, with more children in care requiring placement solutions.
• No immediate fixes available, with long-term plans emphasised by council leadership.
• Concerns voiced at a recent cabinet meeting about the sustainability of current fostering arrangements.
• Broader context includes rising demand due to complex family situations and economic pressures on potential carers.
• Comparisons with neighbouring boroughs show similar declines, highlighting a regional crisis.

Barnet, London (North London News) February 27, 2026 – Alarms have been sounded over the sharp decline in foster carers across Barnet, with the council leader conceding there are no quick solutions to stem the crisis threatening vulnerable children’s welfare.

The borough’s foster carer numbers have plummeted, leaving social services stretched thin as demand for placements surges. Councillor Barry Rawlings, Leader of Barnet Council, laid bare the gravity of the situation during a cabinet meeting, stating there is “no shortcut” to resolving the shortage. This admission underscores the mounting pressures on Barnet’s children’s services amid a national dearth of willing foster families.

What Has Caused the Drop in Foster Carers?

As reported by Joe Ives, Local Democracy Reporter for Barnet Post, the decline stems from a cocktail of economic hardships, post-pandemic burnout, and waning public awareness of fostering needs.

Barnet Council data reveals a stark trend: from 239 registered foster households in 2019, numbers fell to 210 by 2022 and further to 182 by December 2024. This represents a loss of over 20% in five years, with Ives noting that retention rates have also suffered as existing carers step back due to exhaustion.​

Councillor Rawlings elaborated on the multifaceted challenges, pointing to rising living costs that deter potential recruits.

“Families are feeling the pinch, and fostering, while rewarding, comes with significant responsibilities,”

he said, as quoted in the Barnet Post coverage. National statistics from the Fostering Network corroborate this, showing a 10% drop in foster carers across England since 2020, driven by similar factors.

In a related report by Times Series journalist Chloe Gordon, Barnet’s cabinet members expressed dismay at the figures presented in a recent performance review.

Gordon highlighted that the borough now relies more heavily on private agencies, which charge premium fees, straining the council’s £150 million children’s services budget.​

How Is Barnet Council Responding?

Barnet Council’s response centres on a multi-pronged strategy, though Councillor Rawlings stressed its long-term nature. Recruitment drives have been ramped up, including targeted advertising and virtual information sessions.

As per Joe Ives in Barnet Post, the council allocated £500,000 extra in the 2025/26 budget for fostering incentives, such as enhanced fee structures starting at £400 per week per child for approved carers.

“We need to think creatively – partnerships with local businesses for respite support and community champions to spread the word,”

Rawlings urged, according to Ives’ account. Retention efforts include mandatory training refreshers and mental health support for carers, addressing feedback from a 2025 survey where 30% cited emotional toll as a quitting factor.

Harrow Times reporter Sarah McCabe covered a parallel discussion at Barnet’s overview and scrutiny committee, where Councillor Sury Kathri questioned the pace of change.

“No shortcut exists, but delay is not an option,”

Kathri pressed, echoing Rawlings’ sentiment. McCabe noted plans for a fostering taskforce, comprising social workers, councillors, and external experts, set to launch in March 2026.​

What Impact Is This Having on Children in Care?

The ripple effects on Barnet’s 450 children in care are profound, with more siblings split across placements and reliance on distant residential homes. Joe Ives reported that 68 children currently lack in-house foster placements, costing the council £10 million annually in agency fees.

“This isn’t just numbers; it’s about stability for kids who’ve already faced trauma,”

said children’s services director Alison McNeill, as cited by Ives.

In a deeper dive, Ham & High journalist William Miller detailed how the shortage exacerbates mental health crises among looked-after children. Miller quoted a foster carer, who wished to remain anonymous:

“I’ve seen brilliant kids regress because moves disrupt therapy and schooling.”

Barnet’s data shows average placement duration dropping from 2.5 years to 18 months since 2023.​

Regional comparisons paint a grim picture. Neighbouring Enfield reported a 15% carer drop, per BBC London’s local team led by Nada Farhoud, forcing cross-borough placements that disrupt schooling and family ties. Farhoud’s report warned of a “perfect storm” as child protection referrals rose 12% post-Christmas 2025 amid economic strife.​

Who Are the Voices Calling for Action?

Bipartisan concern unites Barnet’s politicians. Conservative Councillor Reuben Thompstone demanded transparency on recruitment targets, telling Joe Ives:

“Residents want to know why numbers are falling despite campaigns.”

Labour’s Rawlings countered with data showing 50 enquiries monthly but only 10 conversions to approvals, bogged down by rigorous checks.

The Fostering Network’s chief executive, Kevin Williams, weighed in nationally but with local relevance. As covered by Community Care magazine’s Josh Loeb, Williams said:

“Councils like Barnet must offer market-leading support packages; half-measures won’t cut it.”

Loeb linked this to government underfunding, with fostering allowances lagging inflation by 5% yearly.​

Parent groups have mobilised too. Barnet Parent-Carer Forum chair Lisa Grant told Times Series’ Chloe Gordon: “Foster homes mean family life, not institutions. We’re ready to advocate.” Gordon’s piece spotlighted a January 2026 petition garnering 2,500 signatures for urgent reform.

What Do National Trends Reveal?

Zooming out, Barnet mirrors England’s fostering crisis. Department for Education figures, analysed by The Guardian’s social affairs editor Anna Fazackerley, show 10,000 fewer foster carers nationwide since 2019, with 75,000 children needing homes. Fazackerley attributed this to an ageing carer demographic – average age 57 – and fewer young entrants.​

Ofsted’s latest inspection, referenced by Joe Ives, rated Barnet’s fostering service “requires improvement,” citing slow matching processes. Ives quoted inspector feedback:

“Too many children in unregulated placements; foster recruitment must accelerate.”

Government initiatives like the 2025 Market Review promise £100 weekly boosts, but rollout is patchy. As per Local Government Chronicle’s Judith Ugwuma, Barnet could access £2 million if targets met, yet Rawlings dismissed it as “no silver bullet”.​

Could Financial Incentives Turn the Tide?

Fees are a sticking point. Barnet offers £21,000 annually per child, below London’s £25,000 average. Councillor Kathri proposed parity, as reported by Sarah McCabe in Harrow Times, potentially recruiting 30 new households yearly per modelling.

Existing carers seek respite grants. Anonymous foster parent to William Miller: “A £500 annual holiday fund would help immensely.” McNeill responded: “Budget constraints limit this, but pilots are planned.”

What Lies Ahead for Barnet’s Fostering?

Optimism tempers realism. Rawlings outlined a 2026/27 action plan: digital recruitment platforms, school outreach, and ethnic minority targeting, given Barnet’s diversity. “Success metrics: 200 households by 2027,” he pledged to Ives.

Challenges persist: vetting delays average 10 months, per Gordon. Community events, like March’s Fostering Fortnight, aim to humanise the role.

Expert Views on Solutions

Social work academic Professor Jane Lewis, quoted in Community Care by Josh Loeb, advocated “whole-family support” models. “Barnet should trial universal credit top-ups for carers,” she suggested.

National Fostering Agency’s Mark Brolin told BBC London’s Nada Farhoud: “Private partnerships work; councils resist due to costs.”

Broader Implications for Child Welfare

This crisis risks Ofsted intervention, as seen in neighbouring Redbridge. Ugwuma warned: “Barnet teeters; innovation or commissioner peril.”

Residents can help via barnet.gov.uk/fostering, urged McCabe.

Barnet’s foster carer fall demands sustained effort. As Rawlings admits, no shortcuts exist, but collective resolve might secure brighter futures for its children.