BREAKING NEWS: Devon County Council has just announced the creation of a pivotal new role aimed at enhancing support for children in foster care. Councillor Robin Julian has been appointed as the Fostering Member Champion for the Children’s Scrutiny Committee, a move designed to ensure that both children in care and foster carers have their voices amplified.
This urgent initiative responds to a pressing need for more foster carers in the region, particularly for older children, sibling groups, and those requiring long-term stability. The council aims to keep children close to their communities, ensuring they remain connected to family, friends, and essential support networks.
In his new role, Cllr Julian, who represents Bideford West and Hartland, expressed his commitment to fostering, stating, “Foster carers give children the love and stability they deserve. My job is to make sure that their voices shape our decisions.” He emphasized the importance of fostering as a rewarding role and vowed to enhance recruitment efforts, ensuring that foster carers feel valued and supported.
This role comes as part of recommendations from the Committee’s Fostering Task Group, which reviewed findings earlier this year. The Children’s Scrutiny Committee formally confirmed this appointment in September and officially recognized Cllr Julian in the November meeting, aiming to ensure ongoing focus and accountability in fostering services across Devon.
Councillor Frank Biederman, Chair of the Children’s Scrutiny Committee, remarked, “I am delighted that Robin has agreed to take on this important role. Fostering is central to the lives of many children in Devon, and having a dedicated Champion ensures that their needs remain at the forefront of our work.”
Currently, Devon County Council has 251 registered fostering households. Cllr Julian will collaborate closely with the Lead Member for Children’s Services, the Corporate Parenting Panel, and senior managers to scrutinize fostering services effectively and amplify the voices of children in care and their foster carers.
This initiative aligns with a significant investment of £2 million in Devon’s fostering services, approved by the council cabinet in November 2025. Starting in April 2026, foster carers will receive improved fees and allowances that reflect the complexity of each child’s needs, including tiered carer fees and child allowances in line with the Department for Education’s National Minimum Allowance.
Additional support measures will include emergency rota services, short-break schemes for children with disabilities, supported lodgings, and enhanced payments for those supporting children with higher needs. This funding follows a consultation with foster carers held in July 2025 and comes after a council decision in June to support an annual council tax relief scheme for foster carers.
This new champion role and financial commitment are crucial in addressing the concerning trend of more foster carers leaving the system than joining. Nationally, the number of fostering households has plummeted by up to a third since 2020, underscoring the urgency of this initiative.
Next steps: The community will be watching closely as Cllr Julian embarks on this essential mission to strengthen Devon’s fostering services, making a tangible difference in the lives of vulnerable children across the county.
