Guide to foster care finance in Swansea

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Introduction to Foster Carer Finance Valuing foster carers Foster Swansea is committed to providing excellent care for children and young people with foster carers who are assessed, supported and rewarded appropriately for the commitment that they give. We value every carer individually and recognise the important task that they undertake as foster carers for vulnerable children and young people in the community.

Foster Swansea strives to invest in our looked after children to ensure they have stable care journeys, with high quality carers. Foster carers are always adequately financed to fulfil their role and meet the needs of children and young people.

Contact us For approved Foster Swansea carers we have a team dedicated to foster carer payments and they can be contacted at: Childcare Finance Social Care Income & Finance Room 1.2.2 Civic Centre Oystermouth Road Swansea SA1 3SN  01792 636310 / 636258 Email:  softbox.remittances@swansea.gov.uk If you are interested in finding out more about fostering for the local authority contact  0300 555 0111.

Visit our website  www.fosterswansea.org @FosterSwansea

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 www.fosterswansea.org

Guidance on foster carer finance Foster carer finance consists of two elements: a) Allowances for the child - The allowance paid for the child is based on the Welsh Government National Minimum Allowances for foster carers. Foster Swansea pay in three age brackets, which can be found below. You will receive an allowance for each child. b) Carer fees - Foster Swansea carers receive a carer fee for every child placed with them.

To acknowledge the skills and time required to undertake the fostering task, fees are linked to the age of the child.

Weekly allowances for the child Age

2018 - 2019

2019 - 2020

0-4

£175

£181

5-10

£159

£165

11+

£199

£206

Weekly carer enhanced fee 0-4

£140

5-10

£161.28

11+

£175

Further information about the enhanced weekly carer fees can be found on page five.

How we pay Fostering allowances and fees are paid fortnightly – one week in arrears and the current week – directly into a bank account. Foster carers will be asked to complete a form providing their bank details to enable payments to begin. Payments are normally made by BACS every other Friday (some changes may occur over bank holiday periods). Foster carers will receive a remittance advice detailing the payment.

Finance policy This guide is intended to provide an overview of our payments. Further guidance for approved Foster Swansea foster carers is available in the Foster Carer’s Finance Policy and in the frequently asked questions document.

 0300 555 0111

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Breakdown of allowances for the child Allowances should cover the everyday and regular expenses associated with caring for a foster child.

Foster Swansea recognises that every child has individual needs. The total weekly amount to be spent on each child can be used at the carer’s discretion and in consultation with their supervising social worker. Please note: although allowances for the child are displayed as weekly amounts, you may not need to use certain elements every week e.g. you may not need to buy clothes every week.

Allowances for children/young people are paid to foster carers to cover the full cost of caring for children/young people and includes the following elements: ■ Food: This covers eating at home and eating out. It also includes school lunches and food provided for contact.

■ Clothing: This covers the cost of all clothing including school uniform and clothing for activities.

■ Transport: Everyday travel costs including transporting to and from school, activities, contact visits and your attendance at meetings for the child/young person.

■ Personal: Such as meeting the costs of personal care e.g. toiletries and any cultural needs.

Also, attending parent and toddler groups, swimming lessons, leisure activities, trips to the cinema and learning a musical instrument.

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Pocket money: Pocket money should be fair and equal for all children/young people in the household. Pocket money should be age appropriate and children should be encouraged to save to buy special items and treats.

■

Savings: Every foster child in placement for longer than 12 months must have a savings account.

The government will open up a savings account for each child once they have been looked after for a continuous period of 12 months. Foster carers should pay into the savings account on a regular basis using money from the child’s allowance. A minimum of £5 per week must be paid into the account.

■ Household: This includes: utility and energy costs, general wear and tear and repair of furnishings and the home, insurances and other expenses associated with the house.

■

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Babysitting, Day Care, Overnight Stays and Holidays: Foster carers own support networks should be used for babysitting arrangements when possible as caring for looked after children within your own support networks will assist children to feel secure and fully included in the fostering family.

Foster carers can also benefit from identifying another Foster Swansea carer as a ‘buddy’, to offer mutual day care / babysitting support. Wherever possible, all looked after children should be included on family holidays with their foster carers.

 www.fosterswansea.org

Breakdown of enhanced carer fees Foster carer fees are paid at three rates and are linked to the age of the child in your care.

0-4

5-10

11+

£140

£161.28

£175

All approved foster carers receive a fee payment for each child in their care providing that they can demonstrate their ability to meet the eligibility criteria below: ■ Approved, willing and able to care for any looked after child ■ Working towards or achieved the QCF – a post approval qualification for foster carers (funded by Foster Swansea) ■ A commitment to professional development, evidenced by the completion of a minimum of 15 hours training per year ■ A commitment to personal development as a foster carer, evidenced by reflection on practice to extend your skills and abilities ■ Investing time into the fostering service, evidenced by actively participating in ongoing recruitment events, support groups and the continuous improvement of the service Carer fees are reviewed at least annually, in line with the foster carers’ annual review process.

Personal and Professional Development Ever foster carer has unique skills and qualities to offer looked after children. We recognise that many carers will have professional qualifications related to caring for children. Others may have valuable personal experience to support them in the fostering task.

Fostering Plus Carers All these foster carers will receive a double carer fee: ■ Foster carers who provide a placement to a child or young person with complex needs (reviewed every three months) ■ Foster carers who provide a placement to a child or young person returning from residential care (reviewed after 12 months) ■ Foster carers who provide a placement to a child or young person outside of usual working hours without background information (paid for up to two weeks)

Parent and Child Foster Carers If you are approved as a parent and child foster carer you will received an allowance for each child and parent within your care. Parents allowances are paid at the 11+ rate. A weekly fee at the 11+ rate will also be paid for each person within your care.

Support Breaks Swansea This is where carers provide short breaks for children who are living at home or with other foster carers. Often they are linked with a particular child and offer breaks on a regular basis. This provides support to the placement or to the family where there might be difficulties and gives everyone a break, including the child.

As a short breaks carer, you will receive the same carer fee and child allowance as a mainstream carer, but on a pro-rata/per day basis.

 0300 555 0111

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Additional payments

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Payment Type

Amount

Conditions

Notes

Day care

£20 half day £30 full day

Day care is paid for a carer to attend training, meetings or appointments when the carers own support networks aren’t available

Carers can also pay each other at the rates stated if they require day care for personal reasons. Foster Swansea must always be informed and in agreement

Birthdays

£50

Paid towards providing for a child on their birthday

Christmas / Religious festival

Age dependent: 0-4 = £90.38 5-10 = £110.19 11+ = £205.04

Paid towards providing for a child during Christmas or religious festivals

Holidays

Age dependent: 0-4 = £190.63 5-10 = £216.24 11+ = £310.17

Paid to assist with the cost of the summer holiday period

Foster carers are encouraged to take their foster children on holiday. Carers are required to budget their allowances to cover the full cost of the holiday

Exceptional costs

Age dependent: 0-10 = £80 11+ = £100

This can be provided to foster carers who offer care to a child/young person on an emergency basis and who have few or no belongings

This ensures that you can purchase night clothes, dressing gown, toothbrushes and other basic items that are needed immediately

Travel

44.9p per mile

Travelling expenses can be claimed when journeys over 20 miles per day are made which have been agreed as part of the child’s care plan

Journeys under 20 miles per day are covered within the child’s allowance

Equipment

Variable

We can order and pay for some equipment for children e.g. equipment for children with disabilities and other safety items

Foster Swansea can purchase car seats for children within your care

Recommending a foster carer

£100

This is paid when an applicant you recommend is approved at Foster Swansea’s Panel

Payment will be made after the applicant is approved

 www.fosterswansea.org