Mr. Bernard Gloster:

There is the issue of the practicality of caring for a teenager, depending on how disrupted his or her life might have been and whether he or she is coming into care for the first time or coming from another placement. The foster care allowance helps the carer support the child, and access to therapeutic supports for that young person must be presented in a way in which he or she will be able to engage. There might be the best therapeutic supports in the world, but if a 15- or 16-year old whose life is fairly chaotic and who has had some dreadfully traumatic experiences cannot interact with them, they will not meet the need that exists.