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SCC Cabinet To Consider Paying More For Foster-Parents

Published on: 24 Apr, 2019
Updated on: 25 Apr, 2019

By Rebecca Curley

local democracy reporter

Foster carers in Surrey could be in line for increased financial help as councillors consider a request to invest more in the service.

If the proposal is accepted, this will be the first review of fees and allowances in 10 years. This would bring Surrey more in line with payments to carers in neighbouring counties.

A report to go before the Surrey County Council cabinet on Tuesday, April 30, says the extra £810,000 for the 2019/20 fostering service budget will help “assist with the retention of current carers”, support recruiting new carers and allow them all to continue to learn and develop their skills.

SCC is looking after 982 children at present, with 697 of them in foster care. Out of those, 251 children are placed with external fostering agency carers, which could mean the children have been moved out of Surrey.

The report says: “While money received is not the sole motivating factor for which residents become foster carers, we are concerned that Surrey is among the poorer-paying authorities and this can be a barrier to recruitment.”

If agreed, the proposed allowance uplift will raise the highest payment for a Level 3 qualified carer from £368 to £422 per week. It will also include an “introduce a friend” scheme of £750.

The report shows, in comparison, the highest weekly payment for a Level 3 carer in Kent is £328 and in Hampshire is £578. Hertfordshire pay £642 for the same level.

The report adds: “The proposed allowance uplift is designed specifically to encourage foster carers to continue with their learning and development, achieving enhanced carer status, Level 3, as appropriate. This will assist the child, with having carers who are better-developed and have a greater knowledge of child development, attachment and understanding of the impact of trauma.

“At a time when budgets are under pressure, the opportunity to prove to foster carers that the service is listening and wanting to continue to develop positive relationships, the approval of this proposal will be viewed as a highly positive step forward.”

Additional budgets will increase by a further £1,550 in 2020/21 and £2,190 in 2021/22.

For more information about fostering visit https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/fostering/contact-the-fostering-service

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