Privatised foster care - Did you know about it?

I'm not surprised that fostering is privatised. More and more councils are in dire financial straits, the latest being Bedford. I don't think that local councils should be expected to pick up the tab for social care, it should be government funded.

Our council tax for the year ending this month was:
34.7% on elderly and vulnerable
23.5% caring for young people and delivering statutory services for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
Total on social care: 58.2% of our council tax

That doesn't leave much for everything else, only 22.4% on bins and highways, yet people keep complaining about potholes and fly tipping, and asking what their council tax goes on. Well it's social care.

The pay is double that of the S/S, which surprised me.

Yes, I knew about this.
Pretty grim.
However not all are dreadful as is suggested here.
And they are at least checked under Ofstead.

We have one nearby. It's a "family sized" home with regular staffing. Expensive but not like the ones described in the video.

My best friend was a foster carer for many years. She was with the council for several years but then went with an agency. The pay rates were better but I don’t think she was very impressed with some of the staff.

It has been the case for many years.

Yes, privatized like the water companies .

The councils are failing families. It’s a national disgrace that’s not being spoken about.

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002n0hg