In this episode, Sarah and Louise roll right back to the start and take a deep dive into the Form F assessment, what it was meant to be, why it’s drifting so far from purpose, and how it’s shaping (and in too many cases misshaping) foster care, culture, and recruitment today.

There’s a lot of serious ground to cover…and, as always with Sarah and Louise, just enough humour to keep the edges from getting too sharp.

They tackle the theatre of panel, why it’s time for that curtain to finally fall, what the Form F bizarrely has in common with a Hoover, and, yes, the ongoing mystery of Sarah’s long-lost Year Nine boyfriend Gary, who remains missing in action despite their best investigative efforts.

Tune in for an honest, insightful, slightly mischievous exploration of one of fostering’s most entrenched processes, and why it desperately needs a rethink.

Indefensible unforgivable.

Sarah & Louise take apart today’s Government fostering stats - exposing the spin behind the headlines and the failings despite millions of taxpayer investment.

All views shared in this podcast reflect the personal opinions of the hosts alone. They are not intended as factual assertions about any person or organisation, nor do they represent the views of any employer or professional body.

Welcome to the second episode of Foster Care Uncovered.

Today, Louise Allen & Sarah Anderson are joined by Dr Joe Hanley, a social worker, lecturer, researcher and author, as we take an unflinching look at the stranglehold some people and organisations have on our sector.

It is quite the eye-opener, especially around the role of the new Children's Minister in these networks.

Join us as we ask....is it crippling the reform that the children and the fostering sector so desperately need?

You may ask what this has to do with us on the frontline, but trust me, it's everything, and the reason we don't get the reform we need.

PS: It's longer than we intended, but it's a huge subject!

Take a look at the interactive map as mentioned by Dr Joe Hanley.

Full Map: https://www.childrensservices.network/network.html

All views shared in this podcast reflect the personal opinions of the hosts alone. They are not intended as factual assertions about any person or organisation, nor do they represent the views of any employer or professional body.