1. The investigation’s second case study examines the institutional responses to allegations of child sexual abuse in foster care in the Councils as well as the barriers to disclosure of those allegations.
2. Fostering is the provision of care in a family home to a child unable to live with their own parents. For many years, it has been regarded as the preferred placement for the majority of children in care. It can take many forms, including emergency, short and long-term placements, short breaks, family and friends (kinship) care,[1] fostering for adoption, and specialist therapeutic care.[2] A local authority placing a child with foster carers has a continuing statutory duty to safeguard and promote the child‘s welfare.[3] Where a child is in foster care but not in the care of the local authority, this is generally known as ‘private fostering’.[4]