Allowances to Foster Carers Fostering and Adoption Service

ALLOWANCES TO CARERS – FOSTERING, ADOPTION ANDKINSHIP SERVICE

1. Purpose of Report

To confirm the details of the delivery arrangements to implement Members’ agreed policy development proposal in relation to Kinship Care (and other Children’s Carers) payments, as reflected within the 2012/13 budget agreed by Full Council at its meeting of 9 February 2012.

2.Recommendations

Members are asked to approve an increase of 4.2% to carers’ allowances in respect of fostering, adoption and kinship care, thereby giving effect to the decision made by Full Council on 9 February 2012 in this respect, with effect from 1 April 2012.

3.Considerations

3.1Full Council at its meeting of 9 February 2012 agreed the Council’s 2012/13 budget including allocations to a number of policy development initiatives. Included within the agreed budget was a recurring allocation of £70k for Kinship Care. Although not outlined within the formally agreed budget proposal, this policy development proposal is based on a 4.2% uplift (based on the December CPI) to Kinship Care, Fostering and Adoption payment levels.

3.2Kinship Care

3.2.1The current weekly kinship allowance paid by the Council to approved kinship carersis £80 per week per child. Kinship carers are also eligible to claim state benefits in respect of the child whilst foster carers cannot.

3.2.2 To increasekinshipallowances by 4.2% would increase the weekly paymentto £83.37.

3.2.3The number of approved kinship placements continues to increase. There are 283 children in 200 families supported by the kinship scheme with 22 more assessments allocated. The current cost of these placements is £1,177k.

3.3Fostering and Adoption

3.3.1The current weekly fostering allowances paid by the Council are:

0 – 4 years£125.09

5 – 10 years£142.49

11 – 15 years£177.38

16 – 18 years£215.74

3.3.2Adoption allowances are only paid when strict criteria (Children (Scotland) Act 1995 Regulations and Guidance) are met. The allowance is paid at the equivalent age related fostering rate.

3.3.3To increase fostering and adoption allowances by 4.2% would increase the weekly payments as below:

0 – 4 years£130.34

5 – 10 years£148.47

11 – 15 years£184.80

16 – 18 years£224.77.

3.3.4There are 86 children in full time foster placements and 6 children receiving regular respite care. This is a significant reduction in number over recent years. There are 85 approved foster care families.

3.4The cost of increasing carers payments by 4.2% is £114k, as detailed below. The Policy Development Proposal included within the 2012/13 Agreed Budget was reflected at £70k, as a provision of £44k (to increase payments to Fostering and Adoption) had already been reflected in the budget model.

4.Governance Assurance

The Head of Finance and Technology has been consulted and is in agreement with the terms of this report.

5.Impact Assessment

As this report does not propose a change in policy development or formal adoption of a plan, policy or strategy, it is not necessary to complete an Impact Assessment.

Author(s)

Approved by

Appendices - None

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