Fostering recruitment and retention forums: Exploring the findings of Fostering New Futures and what they mean for practice
Join colleagues from across the fostering sector for one of two regional forums focused on foster carer recruitment and retention.
These events will explore the findings of Fostering New Futures, Coram's latest research into the factors that influence people's willingness and propensity to foster. Alongside an overview of the research, participants will have the opportunity to consider what the findings mean for their own area and how they can be translated into effective recruitment and retention strategies.
The forums are designed for fostering leaders, managers, practitioners, recruitment professionals and others with responsibility for attracting, supporting and retaining foster carers.
WHAT WILL YOU GAIN FROM ATTENDING?
Participants will have the opportunity to:
• Explore the key findings from the Fostering New Futures research.
• Understand how the findings relate to recruitment challenges and opportunities in their local area.
• Learn practical tips and recommendations for applying the research to everyday recruitment and retention practice.
• Gain marketing and audience insights to help attract prospective foster carers.
• Explore communication strategies that can strengthen fostering recruitment campaigns.
• Hear from fellow practitioners about promising practice in recruiting, supporting and retaining foster carers.
• Learn more about the support, services, tools and resources available from Coram and CoramBAAF.
• Contribute to discussions about the future of fostering recruitment and retention.
SHAPING SUPPORT FOR THE FUTURE
The fostering landscape continues to evolve, with increasing collaboration and regional approaches to recruitment and retention. As well as sharing learning and insights, we want these forums to be an opportunity to listen to the sector.
We are keen to hear from fostering services about the challenges and opportunities they face, what support is needed in the future, and how Coram and CoramBAAF can ensure that our services, products and expertise continue to meet the needs of local authorities, regional partnerships, Regional Care Cooperatives and independent fostering agencies.
Your views and experiences will help shape our future offer and strengthen our collective efforts to recruit, support and retain foster carers.
WHO'S IT FOR?
• Fostering service leaders and managers
• Recruitment and marketing professionals
• Supervising social workers
• Local authority fostering teams
• Independent fostering agencies
• Regional Fostering Hubs
• Regional Care Cooperatives
• Policy, commissioning and strategic leads
• Anyone with a professional interest in foster carer recruitment and retention
COST
Free of charge for:
• Local authority fostering services
• Regional Fostering Hubs
• Regional Care Cooperatives
• Independent Fostering Agencies that are members of CoramBAAF
£60 + VAT per attendee for:
• Independent Fostering Agencies that are not members of CoramBAAF
Our aim is to bring together a broad range of perspectives from across the sector, creating opportunities to share learning, discuss challenges and explore solutions together. As places are limited, we may need to cap the number of attendees from individual organisations if demand is high. This will help ensure that as many services and organisations as possible can take part in the discussion and benefit from the learning shared throughout the day. If this becomes necessary, we will work with organisations to agree attendance arrangements and ensure broad representation from across the sector.
We encourage early registration to secure your place.
EVENT DETAILS AND REGISTRATION
London Forum
Friday 11 December 2026
Location: London
We encourage colleagues based in the South of England to attend this event wherever possible.
CONTACT
If you have any questions about the forums, please contact:
Telephone: 0207 520 7520 / 0310
Email: events@corambaaf.org.uk
We hope you'll join us for what promises to be an engaging and practical series of events. Together, we'll explore the latest evidence, share promising practice, and discuss how we can strengthen the recruitment, retention and support of foster carers. Just as importantly, we want to hear from you about the challenges and opportunities facing fostering services, and how Coram and CoramBAAF can best support the sector in the years ahead.
We look forward to welcoming you.