One in six children in foster care in Scotland have to move between homes due to a lack of suitable carers

Thousands more foster carers are urgently needed in Scotland, a charity has warned, after it was revealed vulnerable children can be forced to move home up to seven times per year.

Action for Children discovered that of Scotland’s 6,415 children in foster care, almost 1,000 had to move at least twice between April 2014 and March 2015 – with 19 of those being moved a staggering seven times.

The charity, which obtained the figures under the Freedom of Information Act, said thousands more people have to be enticed to become foster carers as a matter of urgency.

Children and young people who regularly move between foster care homes, it says, are more likely to have poor social skills, reduced education outcomes and limited future employment prospects – impacting on their mental health and exacerbating any existing behavioural and emotional issues.

“For children in care, moving home is not just about leaving a house. It means leaving a family, friends, school and everything that’s familiar to start all over again,” Carol Iddon, director of children’s services across Scotland, said.

Moving home is not just about leaving a house. It means leaving a family, friends, school and everything that’s familiar to start all over again

“It is impossible to imagine the damage to a child or young person, who has already had the toughest start in life, to have to move several times a year until they find the right foster carer who will stick with them through thick and thin. We know of children as young as four who have had to move three times in less than a year before finding a stable family home.”

Action for Children is looking for as many people as possible from across Scotland who can provide a secure and loving home to children who have experienced trauma and loss.

Lots of people can foster; it doesn’t matter if you’re older, are single, co-habiting or married, male or female or in a heterosexual or same sex relationship, but you must have a spare room and the ability to stand alongside children and young people to help them recover.

Iddon added: “Sadly we know that it can be necessary to move children from their current foster homes as relationships between a carer and child can break down, especially for children who have faced the most traumatic experiences and find it hard to trust someone new.

“However, too many children in care are still facing instability in their lives. That’s why we urgently need more dedicated foster carers to help children and young people overcome trauma by helping them to love and trust again, feel safe, rebuild their sense of worth and belonging.”

If you would like to find out more about being a foster carer visit actionforchildren.org.uk, call 0845 200 5162 or email [email protected]