Link to this page: https://secure.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/1019/28301
From The Socialist newspaper, 21 November 2018
75,000 kids in foster care - and counting: end cuts and for-profit care
Kris O'Sullivan, former foster child, Birmingham Central Socialist Party
"Fostering sector ripe for consolidation... fostering is a growth market... private equity and other companies have been attracted to the sector largely because they can see the potential for cost savings..."
These were the thoughts of the Financial Times back in 2013. Translation? Children going into care are seen as a profit opportunity by capitalist vultures.
And business is good. The numbers of looked-after children rose to 75,420 this year, a 4% increase according to the Department for Education.
Austerity is the main driver of the rising number of children in care, as more and more families cannot cope financially. Social issues such as neglect and abuse also play a major role.
But also, the profit motive of privately owned care firms - mirrored in the business model of charity care firms - sees kids as commodities, risking a perverse incentive to put more into care.
Since 2010, savage austerity cuts have gutted already underfunded frontline services, and devastated local council welfare provision. This has pushed working-class and poor families to breaking point - and break they have.
Youth services destroyed, after-school programmes cut, nurseries privatised.
Draconian benefit sanctions, women's refuges disappearing, and widespread destruction of our welfare state. It all means a steady supply of children with price-tags for the private equity firms pulling the strings.
My own old foster care company, Foster Care Associates, was recently sold off to a private equity firm whose holdings include a leading company in pig slaughter. I'm sure they're only thinking about the kids' welfare'.
Who is to blame? The Tories and their austerity for sure - and Labour councils passing on the Tory cuts without a fight. And that's not even to mention Tony Blair's legacy: privatisation, opening up foster care to 'market forces'.
For the true welfare and protection of looked-after children we need foster care brought into public ownership, and all the cuts reversed. Councils have the power to start this now by using reserves and borrowing to make up the shortfall and building campaigns to win the money back.
The Tory government and its Blairite enablers must go. To solve the problems in foster care, we need a general election now. A Corbyn-led government, with socialist policies to end austerity, must commit to fully funded public ownership of the care sector.
Donate to the Socialist Party
Finance appeal
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- We must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
In The Socialist 21 November 2018:
What we think
Tories Out! General election Now!
May's government limps on... Corbyn and unions must call urgent, mass action
International socialist news and analysis
Spanish state: Over one million students strike against sexism and for inclusive sex education
Political turmoil in Sri Lanka
News
Even UN slams Tory poorhouse Britain
Housing arrears double, suicide risk soars - scrap Universal Credit!
75,000 kids in foster care - and counting: end cuts and for-profit care
Workplace news
Save the high street: public ownership, not ghost malls
'Worker's death could happen again' at Leicester plastic factory
Arriva Rail North under pressure after nineteenth Saturday strike
Indefinite dinner ladies' and teaching assistants' strike
Hamilton posties walk out against bullying
Tube strike solid against victimisation
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Save our NHS - oust the Tory wreckers!
Solidarity with Irish rape trial protests
Thousands march against racism - now Corbyn and unions must take lead
Mansfield council must step in to save miners' park
Stop Nottingham Labour's cuts to disabled travel!
Step up fundraising for the Xmas Collectathon!
Opinion
Nothing to offer from the Blairites
Home | The Socialist 21 November 2018 | Join the Socialist Party
Subscribe | Donate | Audio | PDF | ebook