Foster Care Fix on ITV

A young woman wants to change the priorities advertisements for foster carers focus on. 

Nancy Jones (21) from the Isle of Sheppey, Kent has been fostered since she was a little over one year old.

But Nancy does not feel foster care is always advertised appropriately, as some adverts miss the important attributes carers need and instead focus on financial incentives.

She fears this could turn foster care into a business and is working with Fixers to create an alternative advertising campaign, which uses the experiences of other foster children, to call for foster carers with the values children want.

Nancy says: “Being a foster carer is stressful, and the carer needs to consider a whole range of things before fostering.

“This is why focusing on what children need from foster carers is useful – it allows the child to be heard, gives a greater indication of what to expect in the fostering system, and prevents the wrong kind of foster parent from entering the system.”

The film covers Nancy's experiences and shows her approaching Kent County Council about her project.

Jenny Whittle, from the Council, says: "Money is one element of the package, but we are more concerned about recruiting people who can provide loving homes, and have the patience and skills required to do the job."