Eight children’s care charities have launched an inquiry into the best way to support children unable to live with their birth parents, and are using social media site Pinterest as a hub for communications.

News releases, a letter to the Prime Minister, details of media coverage and the organisations involved are hosted on the dedicated Pinterest site, which will be added to as the inquiry progresses.

A spokesman told civilsociety.co.uk that: “This is a collaboration between eight charities and so it would be inappropriate for one website to host all the materials.”

He added that keeping the inquiry documents separate from the charities’ websites would “demonstrate the impartiality of the inquiry” and “means that each member organisation is free to put their own reactions and comments about the inquiry on their websites.”

In addition, Twitter will be used to hold discussions (using the hashtag #CareInquiry), and articles will be posted on a dedicated Wordpress blog.

Adoption UK, British Association of Adoption and Fostering, Family rights Group, the Fostering Network, Research inn Practice, TACT, the Together Trust and the Who Cares? Trust came together as they wanted to look at how the care system was working as a whole.

The inquiry will hold three evidence sessions in November, December and January which will include presentations, debates and discussions about the care system involving professionals and people with experience of the system. A final report will then be published in the spring of 2013.

Robert Tapsfield, chief executive of the Fostering Network, is chairing the inquiry. He said: “Sorting out the care system goes much further than fostering and that’s why we were very keen to set up the Care Inquiry. Together we can have a much bigger voice and make recommendations for government to ensure the right home can be found for all children.”

The charities have also written an open letter to the Prime Minister informing the government of the inquiry.