8.1.7 Payments for Foster Carers |
RELATED GUIDANCE
Haringey Fostering Service Payment Information for Foster Carers 2010 - 2011
AMENDMENTS
This chapter was revised January 2011.
Contents
Children and Young Peoples Service
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Introduction
This leaflet explains Haringey's Fostering Allowance payments to foster carers. It details the weekly fees and allowances paid to carers and explains the circumstances in which additional payments can be made.
Haringey Councils weekly payments to foster carers acknowledges the significant contribution made by our foster carers to caring for our most vulnerable children and young people. Our allowances are in line with The Fostering Network Guidance and the allowances provided by other leading London authorities and Independent Fostering Agencies.
1. Payment for Skills Explained - Skill Levels
The Payment for Skills scheme consists of two skill levels. Carers enter the scheme on Level One, by being able to demonstrate their ability to meet the basic criteria and being willing and able to undertake the full range of tasks that are required of a competent foster carer.
All new carers will be required to meet Level One criteria, and progress as they further evidence of their skills, abilities and commitment to the task after 18 months approval.
Level One - Key Criteria
All foster carers must demonstrate the ability to:
- Offer children a high standard of care commensurate with that provided by a 'good parent'.
- Communicate with children in an age-appropriate way.
- Provide a safe home environment and consistent and appropriate boundaries.
- Promote children's social, physical, educational and emotional development.
- Promote and support contact between children and their family members and friends
- Participate in the identified developmental and learning opportunities outlined in the individual learning and development plan. To also undertake a minimum of four training courses per year.
- Complete the required preparation training group and complete the 12 mandatory training courses required.
- Work as part of a professional team.
- Attend foster carers support groups a minimum of 8 support groups each year
- Foster Carers approved after 1st April 2008 must complete, The Training, Support and Development Standards for Foster Care and an induction programme, within 12 months of approval.
- Existing carers approved prior to 1st April 08 to complete the standards in (10) above by 2011.
- Foster carers are not to be engaged in full time employment thus ensuring their availability to meet the needs of children and young people being placed with them.
- Carers are expected to have a spare room in their home to accommodate foster children, this room is to be kept to a high standard and foster carers are required to undertake a bedroom health and safety check for each new placement.
- Our allowance rates also recognise the skills and commitment of our carers in meeting the needs of a range of children and young people being placed with them. Children and young people will have experienced some form of trauma, carers are continually required to manage the challenges that this brings to the foster home. Thus carers are required to attend training and development opportunities to update their knowledge and understanding of the range of challenges that differing foster children will bring.
- Foster carers are required to attend a range of meetings concerning the needs of the various children placed with them on a regular basis.
- Carers are also required to make themselves available for meetings and consultations with a number of social workers that will be responsible for the individual children placed with them.
- The allowance recognises the number of meetings, consultations and contact arrangements associated with meeting the needs of a number of children in placement.
- Foster carers are required to keep a detailed daily recordings which will be shared with social workers therapists and other professionals to contribute to the assessment and planning for each child /young person in their care.
- Foster carers are required to keep a family profile to support introductions for each child to be placed with them. This profile is to be updated regularly.
Level Two - Key Criteria
To be confirmed - under discussion
2. Payments
Payments are made weekly for each child in placement and are made up of two parts: The reward element for the carer's skills and requirements (as outlined in 1 to 19 above) and to cover the expenses associated with the fostering task.
2.1 Allowances and Rewards
The total foster care allowance is subject to taxation, carers need to discuss their tax returns with their local tax office.
There are tax allowances and it is unlikely that foster carers will not be required to pay tax. However, foster carers must discuss their tax returns with the local tax office.
Reward
| Under 11s Carers | Level One Reward |
| Task Centred Short Term | £192 |
| Task Centered Long Term | £192 |
(Reward payment for carers of children aged 11 years old or under).
Reward
| 12s and over Carers | Level One Reward |
| Task Centred Short Term | £205 |
| Task Centered Long Term | £205 |
(Reward payment for those carers of children aged 12 years and over).
NB: The tax office do not make a distinction between the reward and the allowance paid.
2.2 Allowance
This part of the payment is to be used by the carer to cover all the cost directly associated with providing care for a particular child and the extra general expenses associated with the fostering task. The weekly allowance is based on the Fostering Network's recommended allowance rates.
| Under 11s Carers | Child Allowance + Expenses | Total Weekly Reward | Total Weekly Payment |
| Task Centered Short Term | £185 | £192 (reward) | £377 |
| Task Centered Long Term | £185 | £192 (reward) | £377 |
| Over 12s Carers | Allowance + Expenses child | Total Weekly Reward | Total Weekly Payment |
| Task Centered Short Term | £232 | £205 (reward) | £437 |
| Task Centered Long Term | £232 | £205 (reward) | £437 |
NB: Carers in receipt of benefits should always discuss their own circumstances with their local Benefits office.
2.3 Breakdown of Child/Young Person's Allowance
The Fostering Network also provides guidelines around a percentage breakdown of the weekly allowance. We have based the following recommended amounts on these guidelines. The larger amount allocated to travel for the younger child reflects their sometimes complicated journeys to school, with you as escort.
Actual levels of payment to the child or young person are determined at the "placement agreement meeting" which takes place early in the placement. The amounts can be reviewed at any time, in a follow-up meeting. The following breakdown shows the amount that should be available for spending on the child in care - not necessarily given to them in their hand.
Any arrangements, including financial ones, made and signed by the carer and child/young person in these placement agreement meetings are binding, for all parties.
It is recommended that any weekly (and other) payments made to the child or young person are recorded by the carer and signed by the young person in the back of the child's log book.
Payment at the Time of Placement
Due to the unpredictability of placements, carers may have little time to prepare for a Childs arrival therefore, at the time of placement the social worker accompanying the child to the foster carers home is required to take an initial payment in cash of £100 per child. to cover emergency clothing, equipment etc. This amount will be deducted from the foster cares first payment.
Click here to view Recommended Breakdown of Weekly Fostering Allowance
3. Terms and Conditions
Payments
- Foster carers must open their own bank accounts. Haringey Council does not have the facility to cash cheques for carers.
- Foster carers are responsible for confirming with the Payments Officer when a placement has been made and when it ends. When a child leaves a placement it is the responsibility of the carer to contact the payments officer/Supervising social worker within 24 hours of the placement ending, as this will prevent over payments being made.
- In the event of an overpayment it is an expectation that the over payment will be immediately returned to the payments officer. Where foster cares receive over payments and do not reimburse this department legal action through the debt recovery section will be instigated.
- The cost of routine journeys to and from school should be met out of the fostering allowance. Foster carers are expected to accompany all primary aged children to school each day; and on occasions escort vulnerable teenagers each day. The fostering allowance element for travel will cover the cost of travel cards occasional mini cab etc to get the children to school and social activites.
If the Foster carer is able to demonstrate that the travel element of the allowance has been exceeded, receipts should be submitted to the supervising social worker for the Team Manager to approve any additional costs.
4. Insurance
- Foster carers are required to have their own buildings and contents insurance policy. It is the responsibility of all foster carers to inform their insurance companies of their fostering activities for the purpose of their contents insurance. All routine domestic claims should be made through this insurance policy.
- Haringey also includes foster carers in a block insurance policy that covers malicious damage in the foster home caused by the foster child or his/ her family. Theft or damage caused by the foster child to other peoples' property, theft from the foster home by the child of his/ her family. (Cash credit cards and cheque books are not covered). Foster Carers must have their own household insurance policy for routine domestic claims: the department cannot underwrite any theft of monies. Legal expenses to provide legal advice to foster carers is provided through the Fostering Network membership .
- Carers making a claim through Haringey council should only do so after their own insurance company have refused to cover costs. The Carer must ask for this refusal in writing and submit this evidence with any claim. The Supervising Social Worker or the child's Social Worker must provide a report to substantiate the claim, and the foster carers provide three repair estimates.
- Insurance claims under £100 for damage to carer's property will be settled directly with the Fostering Services, as there is an excess of £100 within our Insurance Policy. This will need the approval of the Senior Team Manager, (Fostering Service). The supervising social worker must provide a report to substantiate the claim.
- For more information about insurance please see your insurance leaflet provided by fostering network, or talk to your supervising social worker.
5. Additional and Discretionary Payments
Holidays
Holiday payments will be made once a year for each placement, at twice the weekly allowance rate for the relevant age band i.e. 11 years and under £754 and 12 years and over £874. Payment will be made automatically at Week 15 (beginning July). Allowance should be spent on a holiday or alternative leisure activities during the school holidays. In the event that a child moves placement between week 15, and week 19 (August) a proportion of the allowance will need to be repaid to the payments officer or to the new foster carer. Foster carers can requested an early payment for holidays taking place before July.
Holidays must not be taken during school term time.
Special Activity Payments
Special activity payments are made to cover the cost of a young person going on a residential trip with a school or club or participating in leisure or cultural activities that involve overnight stays. The maximum amount payable per child is £225. This needs to be requested in writing to the Senior Team Manager (fostering). The request is to include confirmation that the holiday with a club related to a hobby or social activity is not during school time. And in addition, the appropriate authorisation in writing has been gained from the appropriate manager for the child/young person to attend the trip.
Birthdays
One week's child element of the allowance is payable for the child's birthday £185 or £232 dependant on age.
Celebrations one week's child element of the allowance is paid in December each year to cover the cost of a present and/or celebration of a religious festival; (£185 or £232 dependant on age). This payment can be requested at any time during the year.
Clothing
Some emergency placements may require an urgent payment towards clothing. The maximum amount payable is £100 per child. The Foster Carer must provide receipts for the purchases made and or provide a written account of expenditure.
In non-emergency situations the social worker accompanying the young person to the placement must make every effort to retrieve his or her clothing and personal items from their home. If a child or young person goes to a placement without appropriate clothing and no clothes are available from home, a special clothing allowance can be paid, amount depending on circumstances and need up to a maximum of £230.
The child's Social Worker or supervising social worker will need to provide an outline of the items needed and the estimated costs. This should be requested in writing to the Fostering Manager.
An annual payment of £80 is available to help towards the cost of school uniform. If a child changes school and there is clear evidence that they need special clothing an allowance of up to £100 may be granted in addition to the annual allowance.
Out of Hours Placements
Carers who have been approved for more than 2 year's are eligible to take out-of-hours emergency placements. They would need to be available at night (after 6pm) and at weekends, and have a vacancy for a child or young person. They should be prepared to keep the child until plans are made to move him/her on.
The carer will receive one payment of £100 for the day, as well as the fee and the child's allowance.
Example:
- Placement made Saturday 2:00pm payment is £100 plus child allowance (pro rata).
- Another Placement made 9:00pm the same Saturday as above, only child allowance is paid.
- Placement made next day Sunday afternoon, payment of £100 plus child allowance is paid.
Retainers
A retainer fee of £33.50 per week is paid to a Task Centred Carer who is holding a vacancy open for the planned placement of a specific child. This payment is initiated by the Placement Service.
A retainer fee of £52 per week is paid to those carers holding a vacancy open for a child at boarding school or during an agreed period of reunification with the family. Additional expenses, such as travel costs, can be considered for such placements.
Introduction Rate
During a period in which a child /young person is being introduced to a Foster Carer, a payment is made at a daily rate £24.29 for each day the child is with the carer. For an overnight stay the Foster Carer will be paid for 2 days; at the above rate.
Teenage Mothers
Foster carers who look after teenage mothers with babies where the babies are not subject to any Care or Protection Order will receive an additional payment of £40 per week to cover household costs for a baby; (maintenance cost heating washing machine etc). The mother should be receiving benefits to cover the cost of food nappies etc. where a mother is too young to make these claims an additional payment of £40 will be made to the carer to cover food and nappies, a maximum total of £80 per week. Where the baby is placed and subject to an order the usual allowance for the age group will apply.
Equipment
Foster carers are provided with equipment to facilitate foster placements i.e. bed, bedding etc.
The Fostering Service keeps an inventory of all the equipment supplied by the department, this equipment is on loan to foster carers.
To return the loaned equipment or furniture, once the equipment is no longer needed, please , ring the Fostering Service Purchasing Officer on 020 8489 3080 Jo Koroma. He will explain the necessary procedures to follow for returning equipment.
Any equipment or furniture supplied to carers is the property of Haringey Council and subject to audit scrutiny.
Computers
All Haringey foster carers will be provided with computers for the primary use of the children they look after. Computers are the property of Haringey Council and carers will be asked to sign a contract to acknowledge this.
The costs of accessing the internet will be met by the fostering service as well as any maintenance. Foster Carers are liable for all calls made on the dedicated lines that are not for Internet connection.
NB: We only cover the cost of the BT Broadband that Haringey has installed. Please talk to your supervising social worker about this.
Education
It is expected that foster carers supply basic school equipment, such as books, pens and calculators, and provide for school day trips, from the weekly allowance. Additional expenditure for larger items may be agreed through the Children's Service LAC Education Team on application from the child's social worker.
(Foster carers are responsible for payments for school dinners).
Association Membership
The cost of membership for all carers is met by the fostering service.
Haringey funds the membership costs for all approved foster carers to Fostering Network a national forum for foster carers. When carers have not had a placement for over a year, membership will suspend until the carer resumes fostering.
All foster carers on approval are members of the Haringey foster carers association (HFCA). The fostering service contributes to the operation of the HFCA through provision of an annual grant.
Babysitting
Haringey Council will pay £5 an hour babysitting costs up to a maximum of £25 a day, for attendance at Social Services meetings or training. The Fostering supervising social worker should be informed of the arrangements made so that they are able to provide information to the budget holders. Foster carers should be confident that the baby sitter is suitable and has the appropriate clearances i.e. CRB.
Training & Support Groups
Haringey Council provides crèche facilities at training venues to enable carers to attend courses. We will pay babysitting costs to foster carers attending training and Support Groups (as above).
Missing Children/Planned Absence
If a child goes missing from the placement carers will receive full payment for up to two weeks. Further payments will be negotiable with the Head of Service. In the event of a planned absence a retainer will be paid. £52 per week at the discretion of the head of service. Supervising social workers are required to make a written request for the above.
Serious Concerns/Allegations
Where children have been removed from placement following a section 47 investigation the task centred foster carer will be eligible for a payment of the reward element of their allowance. The payment will continue until a decision is made at the final strategy meeting. And will be paid for up to 3 months at the discretion of the head of service.
6. If You Need Help
- You can get advice about benefits from your local Citizens Advice Bureau
- You can get advice about tax by ringing the Tax Aid helpline on 020 7803 4959.
- You can read about the latest changes in Income Tax on the Inland Revenue website
- Fostering Network have a new Fosterline telephone advice line offering free, impartial advice on issues affecting foster carers. It is available on free phone 0800 040 7675 and by email at fosterline@fostering.net
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