Daughter kissing and hugging her mother

17 Jan The CA Foster Carer Mapping Tool: A New Resource for Local Authority Commissioners

Posted at 11:16h in CA Analytics, Commissioning Alliance News by
0 Likes

At Commissioning Alliance, we’re committed to developing market summary solutions that empower local authorities to make data-driven decisions. We have recently developed our Foster Carer Mapping Tool, which we hope will be a game-changer for commissioners. The tool is designed to provide a comprehensive market overview of where individual foster carers are located and which Independent Fostering Agency (IFA) they are with, to support sufficiency strategies and improve placement planning.

What Is the Foster Carer Mapping Tool?

Developed as a proof of concept, the Foster Carer Mapping Tool offers a snapshot of IFA provision within local authorities (LAs). It provides insights into:

  • Total fostering capacity.
  • Placement utilisation across regions.
  • The key providers operating in the local market.

Using data collected from 38 providers in early 2024, the tool visually maps placements, highlights capacity usage, and identifies which LAs are placing children in your borough.

Why This Tool Matters

The Foster Carer Mapping Tool isn’t just about viewing data; it’s designed to provide actionable insights. By using the tool, commissioners can:

  • Identify key providers operating in their area.
  • Gain insights to refine their engagement strategies.
  • Make informed decisions to address local sufficiency challenges.

We plan to collect the data annually, so the tool will evolve to reveal long-term trends in provider capacity—helping commissioners monitor market dynamics, including growth or shrinkage, over time. The next update is due in April 2025.

Key Features of the Tool

The tool comprises three distinct tabs:

  1. Placing LA Tab

This tab allows users to:

  • Select a specific Placing LA and view the number of placements with IFAs.
  • Break down placement types (e.g., standard, specialist, or parent & child).
  • Explore a bar chart of placements by location and a geographical map showing the spread of foster carers.

 

  1. Host LA Tab

This view focuses on foster carers (FCs) in your borough, showing:

  • The number of FCs currently registered in the LA.
  • The LAs placing children in your area.
  • An overview of capacity, including the maximum registered beds per household, while acknowledging real-world constraints such as matching considerations.

 

  1. Local Market Tab

This tab provides insights into:

  • Which providers have foster carers in your LA and the number of placements they manage.
  • Key providers in your area, helping you tailor engagement strategies.
  • Over time, this tab will display year-on-year trends in provider capacity and the overall market.

 

Driving Better Outcomes

Through offering these insights, the Foster Carer Mapping Tool is designed to equip commissioners with the information needed to engage strategically with providers and optimise placement decisions.

The Foster Carer Mapping Tool will continue to evolve as a vital resource for commissioners.

Would you like to learn more? Get in touch with CommissioningAlliance@ealing.gov.uk