Issue - meetings

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Children and Enterprise, on a revised scheme for the payment of allowances to Halton Foster Carers.

            The Board was advised that foster care allowances were determined by each local authority. In 2010, Halton decided to increase allowances beyond the national minimum, as set out in Appendix 1. It was reported that the scheme had worked well, but a review was necessary for the following reasons:

(i)      the current scheme did not recognise the different knowledge and skill level amongst the foster carer population;

(ii)    there was no ‘incentive’ for carers to complete their necessary core and developmental training;

(iii)   many local authorities and some of the national bodies (e.g. BAAF, Fostering Network) recommended the use of a ‘levels’ based scheme which recognised the skills of each carer, the training that they do, the experience that they gain and the development they achieve in the caring role; and

(iv)  case law has established that financial support for Special Guardianship Orders should be based on a local authority’s ‘base’ fostering allowance.

            It was proposed that in future, allowances would be paid at two levels:-

·         Level 1 – base fostering allowance paid to all carers; and

·         Level 2 -  enhanced allowance paid to those carers who demonstrated additional skills, knowledge and experience.

It was noted that the proposed revised scheme, attached at Appendix 2, had been consulted upon with carers between June and August 2014, had been amended to reflect their feedback and had the support of existing carers.

Reason(s) For Decision

To implement a revised scheme that represented a more effective and efficient use of Council resources and recognised experience, knowledge and skill.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

The proposal had been through the consultation process and had been amended as a result of it.

Implementation Date

The revised scheme of payments would be introduced from April 2015 for existing carers and would be advertised from October 2014 for newly recruited carers.

RESOLVED: That the revised scheme be endorsed.