We wanted to 1) hear the voice of the child 2) identify practical and emotional support that can be put into place and 3) give foster carers confidence in the system

So we spoke to foster carers across Wales who shared their experiences, not an easy thing to do #tfnconference #tfncymru #tfnwales

We support foster carers through our free confidential #fosterline

We also collect data from our #stateofthenation report

All this research tells us how important independent support is for these carers, to avoid a sense of abandonment both during and after the investigation process

Children are often removed from their carers, without any contact during the process or after it's completed. Colin explains how bewildering this is for all involved

However, we encourage and empower children to speak up about their concerns #tfnconference

Foster carers told us how an allegation affects their reputation and relationship with their service, as well as physical health. It's a complex issue that impacts on all areas of their lives #tfnconference

We heard from a foster carer who felt well supported throughout, we used this case study to inform our report

So our key finding is to fully prepare foster carers on how to deal with allegations, tell them what the process is and how long it takes. Keep them up-to-date with developments and inform them through training #tfnconference