Revolutionising Foster Care Assessment Through User-Centred and Systemic Design

Why Care is transforming the foster care sector with an innovative solutions to improve the process of becoming a foster carer. We are developing tools and systems that will increase the rigor and support available to carers.

Our project has three main goals. First, we aim to enhance existing processes by streamlining the foster care assessment, making it more efficient and transparent. Second, explore the need for a clearer, more supportive assessment process using user-centred design principles. Third, if identified as a solution we want to exploit digital tools to achieve our objectives.

We aim to work with end users to explore ways of best meeting these goals and are open to exploring whether these are the right goals to pursue.

Our approach is innovative in several ways. Anything designed will be done collaboratively with end users. We will use agile development methodologies to refine and iterate ideas. The impact of our project could significantly benefit the wider sector by increasing the number and diversity of foster carers, enhancing placement quality thus reducing the number of placement breakdowns, and improving outcomes for children in care.