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Foster Carers Warn Council Cuts Will Drive Them Away

Wednesday, March 25, 2026 fostercare socialwork restructure protest bath children unison consultation government labour

Controversial plans by Bath and North East Somerset Council to cut social work staff are raising alarms that foster carers will be forced to leave, deepening an already critical shortage. Two foster carers spoke at the full council meeting on March 19, expressing grave concerns over the council’s restructuring of children’s services. “We already don’t have enough foster carers for the children in our care. The government is pushing recruitment because there’s a national crisis,” one carer stated, “and yet here, local changes seem to be driving carers away.